TOTALISATOR PERMITS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10456, 21 October 1911, Page 5

TOTALISATOR PERMITS

REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS. ' A BREACH OF PRIVILEGE: x By Telegraph—l'ress A ssoviattun WELLINGTON Last JsapJit. ; In the House of Representatives tin's afternoon, Sir-Joseph Ward read a memorandum from the Chairman of the Racing Commission, in reply to the request- of- the House, through the Premier, that the Commission should re-consider ita report. Mr Colvin raised a point off order regarding the fact that the report contained comments on speeches made by members of the House. The Speaker ruled that the Comr mission's report was not in order in commenting as it did on speeches made in the House, but it was for the House to say whether an exception should be made in this case, and the report be accepted. A long discussion fallowed. Sir Joseph Ward said he desired to state that he had not, in the communication he had addressed to the 1 Commission, referred to any speeches , of any member of the House. Mr Colvin i moved that'» breach of privilege had been committed: by the author of the report. Mr Massey said there was no doubt a technical breach had been com- ) mitted; but it was too slight to notice, i On the Premier's motion it was decided that no further action be takenwith regard to the breach of privileged The matter was then dropped. ■ The position now is that the Speaker has ruled that the House cannot receive the report. - . r >:'y . ; TEXT OF THE REPORT. ; J COMMISSIONERS ADAMANT. ADHERE TO THEIR REPORT.-] By Tdegraph—Frwa Auociation. WELLINGTON, Night. The report presented by Sir Joseph ' Ward from the Racing Gpmniission as follows: — , ' "We, Commissioners appointed Wfor 1 the purpose of the •'• hearing of the G&ttfihg.< Amendment Bill - now befpre parliament, and the arguments adducedin its support upon the reports of the Commission and the' schedules thereto, appended, have the honour to submit the following report : —The purpose of the Bill is to reinstate certain clubs whoso days-.. of racing were taken awiay by the Commission under a special direction of the Legislature ordering the reduction 6f< racing days by 55. With certain ex-" ceptions the Commission has no 'objection to this proposal, as.it was unanimous in. the opinion that the days , . of racing are not excessive to supply-* requirements of so scattered a population. The comments upon the report show that it has been misunderstood in some respects, and that some of the commentators have, after glancing at the schedules, neglected to read the report on which they were based. The statement that the country clubs were not represented was con-, trary to fact. The satemcnt th&i 127 . country club's- lost .43 days • and the., • metropolitan clubs four days was a •violent suppression of the truth; and a suggestion of falsity. The Commission diet not' consider thie v metropolitan clubs a s suchj but merely in relation to the due supply of facilities for racing and for certain populations. The effect of the report was to reduce the day? of racing ivithin 15 miles of these centres .by 28, leaving 26 days for the. rest of the Dominion. The enforcement of . ; the fencing of oourses was necessary for the protection of riders and spectators. The statement that the West- ( port course was visited in the dark , was cpntmry to fact. In almost every case the club disfranchised had assets . in excess of liabilities. Every consideration was shown to clubs having ori<e. day's racing. The Commissioners are - unanimously of opinion that their re- ' ports of May 22nd apd June ' 18th 5 should be adhered to. It was.expressly ■ their accep.tan.ee, o|;an ungracious task was upon condition that their decisions should be accepted - us final. They most strongly protest * agairtst any alteration 'br deduction •' from the days of racing allotted by them. Regarding the provisions of the Gaming Amendment Bill, the Commissioners do not consider them J inconsistent with the unanimous opin- 1 ion expressed in their reports, that the days of racing are not excessive to : supply the requirements of so scatter-' . ed a population. The Bill, however, ] interfered with the scheme of distribu- J tion which the Commissioners desired , to oariy out: (1) By reducing the days < allotted to contiguous clubs where the ] loss- would be least harmful; (2) ,by i taking days from clubs whose appointments and mcthodi displayed gross carelessness, or where the own- i ership was in effect proprietory." .The report was signed on behalf of, and with the full concurrence of all the 11 Commissioners —Sir George I \