REDUCED RAGING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10277, 3 July 1911, Page 5

REDUCED RAGING.

ANOTHER PROTESTING CLUB. VALIDITY OF THE COMMISSION'S REPORT. Another aggrieved deputation representing the Taratahi-Carterton Racing Club waited upon the Minister of Internal Affairs on Saturday, and complained of the decision of the Racing Conference, by which it's two days' permit is to be cut down to one. Mr W. C. Buchanan, M.P., introduced the deputation. Mr H. R. Bunny, president of the Club, said he realised the difficulties which confronted the Commission, but he thought the Taratahi-Carterton Club had been harshly treated. They had spent a good deal of money in keeping their appointments abreast of the times. Further, when the land (100 acres) was the club's own it proposed to'dedicate it for public use. It had rot entered into a covenant to that effect, but it was prepared to do so at any time. The land cost the club £2900, "and of that sum £IOOO had been paid, leaving £I9OO on ' mortgage, the overdraft at the Bank 1 of New Zealand being £I4OO, and the interest charges £lB9 per annum. He submitted that the Commission had gone a little further that it had a right. It should have given preference to clubs holding only one meeting (in this instance a two-days' meeting) per year. Mr H. H. Wolters said that the club had always stood for clean sport. The stewards of the club had made themselves guarantors for the club liabilities. Mr Deller explained that the proposal to give the club's land to the public in, trust was not a new one. Mr Buchanan said'a feature of the Commission's report which the Government ' should take notice of was the apparent favour shown to the large centres of population and the treatment meeted out to the country clubs. He maintained that the country population was entitled to as much consideration —and more —than people in the towns in regard to racing. The Government should take a broad view of the Commission's report. It was not' part of the deputation's business to condemn the reduction of racing days-, but there were unexplainable features-in the report. The Whangarei Club paid £430 in stakes, last year, Lake County £4OO, and Te Aroha £355, a total of £llßs. Yet they were each recommended for two days' racing. Taratahi-Carterton paid £I4OO in stakes last year, an average of £7OO per day, against £197 per. day for the three other clubs mentioned. He reminded the Minister that it would later be in the power of the j Government to mitigate the effect of some of the recommendations of the Cpmmission,. In the .report complaint I was made by the Commission of the j appointments at Mastertbn, and a i mandate had been issued. On, the i other hand the Carterton Club, with I unexceptional appointments,- was reduced. ' I The Minister said he, recognised the ' position the club was in, but if ■ jt. was martyr it, was not the only one in New Zealand. In one district, with , 30,000 people and no'racecourse closer than twenty miles, three clubs had i been dropped and one hunt club left in. He did hot think anything* he could say would brighten the prospects. . So far the report had not reached him, but it was clear from the Act that the licenses were to be granted by the Governriient fti accordance with the report of the Commission, in so far as it was in accordance with the Act, The law was mendatory. It was 'for the law advisers to say how far the Commission had given "consideration'' to the case of country clubs. It appeared he was powerless in regard to the first year's racing. He hoped to be able to say whether the report was, in -accordance with the requirements of the Act within the next few days.

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