CRITICISM FROM PALMERSTON.

Shannon News, 20 February 1925, Page 2

CRITICISM FROM PALMERSTON.

“EXTRAORDINARY SET OF PERMIT^-” interviewed by a Standard reporter, Mr J. M. Johnston, secretary to me Manawatu Racing Club, stated thht they were a most extraordinary set oi permits, the distribution presenting some totally inequitable features. The northesrn section of tins island appeared to have reaped the greater benefit, Waipapakauri, Dargayiße, Whangarei, Franklin, Matamata, Rotorua, Te Kuiti, Hamilton and Waimariiio ail sharing in the allpcation. The proxiniinty ojf some of these clubs to Auckland would render their meetings suburban, gatherings. The geographical situation of Waipapakauri (a farming and dairying district 214 miles north-west from Auckland) made the success of such a meeting a doubtful proposition, while Waiapu, which is situated in the neighbourhood of the East Cape, was similarly positioned. Waimarino had obtained a permit at a previous distribution of permits, but was unable to conduct a meeting, yet it again figured in the list. Hamilton, which is the centre of a group of meetings, previously enjoyed two days, while Whangarei now boasts three days as the result of it being allotted a further day. Matamata was allocated a day’s racing last year and has already been promoted to the status of a two-day club. Motueka is the only southern centre to figure in the list, a minor town which had never before enjoyed a permit. Frankton, added Mr Johnston, is presumably Franklin. In referring to the trotting permits, Mr Johnston pointed out a. certain amount of unfairness iii the distribution, a town like Thames, which enjoyed two days’ flat racing, having been given a one day trotting meeting. Te Aroha (2 days), New Plymouth (i days), Hawera (4 days) and Hawkes Bay (6 days), which already enjoyed a big measure of racing, had been further catered for by their having ibeen given trotting meetings additional to ihe .flat racing days shown in parentheses. Touching on the custom of southern racing clubs of including in their programme two trotting events, Mr Johnston expressed the opinion that, where trotting clubs in those districts had been allotted permits, the flat racing | clubs should be required to withdraw trotting events from their programme. The Manawatu Racing Club had hoped for an additional racing day in the winter season, but its refusal had not been altogether unexpected.