RACING PERMITS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 53, 20 July 1912, Page 5

RACING PERMITS.

COUNTRY CLUBS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. A reply given by the Prime Minister ami the Minister of Internal Affairs to a deputation from the Ashhnrst Racing Club to-day indicates that the position of country racing clubs which lost their permits as the result of the findings of the Racing Commission, will be dealt with by way of a private Bill when Parliament again assembles. -Mr. Massoy said thnt no opposition would be offered to such a Bill, providing always that it did not overstep the bounds of reason. A strong plea was made by the deputation for the reinstatement of the club's permit. The Hon. IT. D. Bell, in his reply, defended" his action in giving the Rangitikei Club two days' racing. He sympathised with the Ashhurst Club, but said he could not recede from the position he had taken up. The Prime Minister told the deputation that the cause of the trouble was the licensing of bookmakers. Under the amendment to the Gaming Act of 1907 Parliament agreed to the proposal, very unwisely, and the direct result was the increase of racing and a very great increase of gambling. While the Government had no intention of encouraging gambling, the deputation would find no difficulty would be; placed in the way of genuine sport.. With regard to the proposal for a private Bill, Mr. Massey said "So far as the Government is concerned you will get a fair run. Of course the forms of the House often stand in the way of a private.Bill. Until we see the Bill we cannot promise to support it." 'Mr. Guthrie, M-P-, assured the Minister that the Bill would not contain anything that was unfair. All they asked was that the forms of the House would not be used against them and that the question would be made a non-party one.