COUNTRY RACING CLUBS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 54, 22 July 1912, Page 5

COUNTRY RACING CLUBS.

URGE RESTORATION. SYMPATHETIC REPLY FROM MR. MASSEY. (From our own correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. ' The claims of country racing clubs to liavo restored to them the totalisator permits of which they were deprived as the result of the Racing Commission were brought under the notice of the Prime Minister (the Hon. W. F. .Massey) and the Minister for Internal Affairs Tthe Hon. F. H. D. Bell) by a deputation from the Country Racing Clubs' Conference tin; morning. The deputation was introduced by Mr. D. H. Guthrie, M.P. Mr. Bruce (Thames), chairman of the conference, said that for over two years lie and his colleagues had been engaged in a battle to get back what they considered' their rights—the number of days taken away from them as the result of what they believed to be hysterical legislation. When hysterics were abroad the resultant legislation generally left a lot of irritation. They knew this was a. difficult matter to handle, because there was a great deal of difference of opinion. Country people looked upon th?ir annual race meeting as the one day of the year when all could meet on a common platfoim and enjoy each other's company. He had been attending such meetings since he was a youngster, and he had never seen any harm come to anyone attending them. "In fact," he said, "I have known more lifelong harm done at a Sunday-school picnic than at a country race meeting," They were all decidedly of opinion that an injustice had been (lone by taking away their days of racing. They knew that in coming to Mr. Massey they had come to one who would lend a sympathetic ear. It was the intention of the conference to promote a Bill in Parliament this session to restore them to their original position, and they iycre determined to keep on lighting until Uiey got their rights. If it was thrown out this year it would turn up again next year, like n. hardy annual, until they got it through-. All they asked was that (lie Bill should get fair play, and that it the majority of the members of the House were of opinion that it should be passed, no obstacle should be put in its road so far as the Government was concerned.

Several members of the deputation elaborated the points made bv the first speaker.

Mr. ,T. Evans (Westland) pointed out that the Bill they proposed to submit would come before an entirely new House, all the members of which were fully conversant with the position. He believed the people would be thoroughly satisfied if the Bill had a fair run—what the Price Minister called "a square deal."' ■Mr. J. McCardle (Pahiatua) remarked that if the Government wanted tne people to live on the land in isolated districts they were taking the wrong' course, because they practically said'that if you wanted a day's racing you must go into the town for it. Country life was not sufficiently attractive at present, and their little pleasures were nipped in the bud by people who had no idea of whatt country people had gone through. Mr. J. H. Escott, M.P. for Pahiatua, said that he was not prepared to support a Bill giving unlimited scope for racing, but he would favor a measure giving justice to country clubs. MR. MASSEY'S REPLY.

The Prime Minister, in replying, said that the number of days' racing was fixed by statute, and could only be altered by statute. He thoroughly agreed with the opinion that hardship had been inflicted on country clubs in quite a number of instances, and he thought it was right that, the representatives of country clubs should take the necessarv steps to have their grievances remedied, lie understood that the representatives of country racing clubs intended to pro-" mote n. Bill with the object of putting matters right. No attempt would be made by the Government to regard such a _ Bill frpm the party point of view. Every member of tho Government party, and he believed every member of the House, would be free to do exactly what lie liked in regard to it. He was glad that the deputation had not asked tho Government to introduce legislation. From a private member's Bill it would! be possible to get an idea as to the attitude taken up by Parliament. lie had no idea what the Bill intended to provide, whether it would increase the number of racing days or merely make a. readjustment. The Government was in favor of promoting genuine sport. It would place 110 difficulties-in the way of it. While he said that, he thought that as time went on, without giving any encouragement to gambling, which he was dead against, they would be able to make arrangements which would be satisfactory to all concerned. (Applause.) The Hon. IT. Bell said that he was entirely in accord with what the Prime Minister had stated.

Mr. E. W. Allison (Takapuna): Have we an assurance that the "Bill will get fi square deal; that is, that an opportunity will he afforded for Parliament to decide either for or against it? The Prime Minister: I can assure you that your Bill will get what Mr. Allison calls "a square deal." .Tt will get a fair run. (Applause.)