THE KARAKA RACING CLUB.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3185, 3 April 1911, Page 5

THE KARAKA RACING CLUB.

PETITION TO THE MINISTER. A petition to the Minister for Internal Affairs is being circulated among residents of the Waikohu and Cook Counties and the Borough of Gisborne for signature, praying that a totalisator permit be granted to the Te Ivaraka Racing Club. It. is pointed out that the club lias been in existence for seven years and lias held a meeting in each \ year, duly sanctioned by the proper authorities. The club is composed of reputable persons resident within the aforesaid districts, and the management and control of the affairs of the club are in the hands of gentlemen well versed in the requirements of a'acing. The club is the owner of the freehold of the land on which the race meetings are held, and has spent a considerable amount of money in improving the land and further arrangements have been made to improve the buildings and appointments with a. view to making the cluV's premises thoroughly up-to-date and ample for all 'requirements.’ The Gisborne-Motu railway passes alongside the course, and 1 every facility has always been afforded by the railway authorities , for the conveyance af passengers to the club’s meetings. Such meetings were a source of considerable revenue to the Railway Department, the records showing that over 1500 persons were carried by the railway on the date of the club’s last meeting. The recent legislation having prohibited the club from allowing bookmakers to practise their calling at future meetings, the club will be deprived of a substantial revenue and if the permit now applied for is refused, the club will in all probability be compelled to discontinue its meetings. The petitionrs are aware that this club is the only racing club within the County of TVaiko.hu, which is a large and prosperous district, of which Te Ivaraka is the centre. Furthermore, there are only two totalisator clubs in the Bay of Plenty electorate —viz., Rotorua and Tologa Bay—and these are very many miles distant from Te Karalsa. The Te Karaka Racing Club’s meetings are very popular, the .attendance is always large, and has been growing year bv year, and to- country residents, particularly, these meetings are a source of much- pleasure and recreation. and afford an opportunity for settlers in the back-blocks to meet and enjoy something of the privileges of city residents. Therefore the petitioners pray that the Minister would exercise his powers and grant the permit. It is antic mated that the petition will be largely signed.