Another Knot in Racing Tangle

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 115, 5 August 1927, Page 9

Another Knot in Racing Tangle

WAIKATO DISPUTE DISTRICT COMMITTEE’S ACTION As a result of yesterday’s meeting of the Auckland District Committee, the dispute over the date for the annual race meeting of the Waikato Hunt Club has taken a new turn. After the district committee met yesterday the following statement wa « handed to the Press: “Correspondence was received from the Racing Conference in regard t > the Waikato Hunt Club's application to race on Labour Day, and in connection with that club’s programme it was resolved as follows: “That while regretting the conflict that exists between the Minister and the Racing Conference in connection with the allotment of Labour Day, this district committee resolved: 'That as the New Zealand Racing Conference has not consented to the Waikato Hunt Club racing on Labour Day this committee cannot, under the Rules of Racing, pass the programme until a day other than Labour Day be chosen and approved, or until the New Zealand Racing Conference gives its consent to the club racing on Labour Day.* ” Obviously this was the only possible course the district committee could take, for until such time us the Racing Conference approves of Labour Day for the Waikato Hunt Club it would be beyond the powers of the committee to pass the club’s programme. As things stand at the present juncture, there will be no racing in the Waikato on Labour Day. IN HIGH PLACES The dispute is now out of the hands of the two clubs concerned, and ah- . to an extent outside the jurisdiction of the Auckland District Committee. It now lies between the Racing Conference, as the controlling authority . racing in the Dominion, and the Minister of Internal Affairs. FUTILE RACING COMMISSION A few years ago the Government sent a costly Racing Commission roun-l the country and it had an excellent chance of doing much good work. It did, but what was the result? Certain clubs were in danger of losing their permits and then the politicians got to work to fight for them. Consequently the efforts of the Racing Commission were to a very large extent nullified. Later a few extra permits were made available and the Minister of Internal Affairs paid an extensive round of visits to many clubs which had applied for one of these permits, promising, or as good as promising, more than won available, while other clubs he v • emphatic in giving an almost defini' refusal. To the general consternation of thos< who knew the district, the Minis!• r granted a permit to Waimarino. W. marine has no course on which to rar and there are no horses there. There might be a club now. Consequently the permit granted was a floating onand up to the season just conclude I the Waverley Club has used it. WHAT IS BEHIND IT? In the present instance the Minist* ; appears to have had with him the support of many members of the Horn* of Representatives, which makes it interesting to know just what is behind this sudden activity on their part. Perhaps the fact that the Gaming Bill Is shortly due to be brought before the House may have had something to do with the attitude of these members and their hostility may be but a prelude to a bitter fight against the Gaming Bill.