RACING PERMITS.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 June 1920, Page 4

RACING PERMITS.

AN INCREASE NOT FAVORED. THE GROWTH OP GAMBLING. (By Telegraph—Special Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr. Anderson) has been approached by a number of racing clubs for the restoration of racing days taken away from (hem some time ago, when the House and the (Jovernment decided 011 a curtailment of racing owing to the war. The Minister had another swell request before him to-day, when lie ventured to express his own opinion as to the wisdom of an unrestricted increase in the number nf days. He put it to his deputation in this way: "In the interests of racing itself do you, as racing | men, think it. would be wise to grant permits to the thirty clubs applying for them? lam asking you this'because I am looking for information. You say 'No.' I agree with you that it. would be one of the worst, things that could be done in the interests of racing to give this unrestricted number of permits. "I cannot say at present what will bo done. It seems to mo that al! that can he done is a redistribution'of days. You say that you do not think the Racing Conference will act fairly to you. A member of the deputation: According to their lights they do act fairly, but they are not sympathetic to country racing. Mr. Anderson then expressed this opinion: "If there is no increase in the number of permits then I think you should ask the Racing Conference to give you one of the plethora of days now held by the four centres. Each of the four cities has at present a great number of racing days. lam not questioning their»rights to have them, but if there is not to be an increase in the number of days then it- seems to me there will have to be a redistribution. If I may disassociate myse]f for a moment from my position as Minister to give my own personal opinion, it seems to me there are a lot of things to consider. The amount of gambling that is going on is very seriouk, and you must take that into consideration. My own point of view is that it would be the worst thing the racing clubs could do to ask for or to press for an fcicrease in racing days or permits beyond the present number. This is my own individual opinion, given for what it is worth."