RACING COMMISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 May 1921, Page 5

RACING COMMISSION.

THE LAST EVIDENCE.

SITTINGS CONCLUDED.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, May 7. The Racing Commission is sitting today to take final evidence prior to drawing up a report. The Rev. Dr. Pinfold, giving evidence on behalf of the Methodist Synod public morals and temperance committee, the Methodist Church of New Zealand, the Methodist conference and the young peoples' society of Christian endeavor, first read a series pf resolutions protesting against any proposal to intensify gambling by increasing racing permits, especially at a time when the country was passing through a period of financial stringency, and when the public leaders were urging thrift and economy. He-contended an increase in the number of permits will intensify the evil and he claimed there was no general desire for an increase; this came from an interested section of the racing fraternity. Dr. Pinfold said an increase in the number of meetings meant an increase in drunkenness. In answer to the chairman as to whether he had attended a race meeting, witness said he had not exactly been at a meeting but he had been round about to see what was going on. He had seen a number of drunken people returning from racecourses. The chairman: If you ever attended a meeting at Ellerslie you would know that was not correct.

Mr. Shallcrass, general secretary of the Dominion Sports Protection League, representing all branches of the legitimate sport and recreation of the mass of people, had been instructed to say that if, as a result of its inquiries, the commission considered an increase of permits necessary they should not, hesitate to make a recommendation accordingly. Mr. Shallcrass gave many reasons in favor of an increase, such as increased population in many districts, the need of clubs with only one day’s racing to meet increased requirements of trotting, and the fact that the Governmen received £441,449 from racing. As to the moral aspect there would always be a difference of opinion, but his league contended that aspect of the question had nothing to do with the commission.

Mr. Laughton, attendance officer of the Education Board, said his experience showed that an increase in the number of race meetings had a detrimental effect on the rising generation. Mr. Louis Cohen, representing the trotting conference, maintained that racing, as conducted in the Dominion, made for good citizenship. Tn no other part of the world was trotting better conducted than in New Zealand. He denied Dr. Pinfold’s statements in regard to drunkenness. Mr. T. H. Davy, stipendiary steward to the trotting conference, contended that drunkenness at race meetings was infinitesimal. Trotting now was an absolutely clean sport, and had been brought about an improvement in breeding by keeping good stallions. The chairman announced that the commission had concluded. In drawing up their report they would give careful attention to the representations made by all parties.