numerous divisions from regard to the safety factor. This reduces the stake to the winners of the several divisions and very largely dissipates public interest. From the point of view of the sport, what is desirable is that there should be sufficient meetings to provide a reasonable measure of competition between the maiden and improver classes so that every horse will have a reasonable chance of qualifying for a better class. To achieve such a standard the allotment of eighty days asked for by the Trotting Conference would appear not to be exorbitant. On the other hand, weighty considerations present themselves to the contrary. 295. In the first place, the number of days available for organized gambling upon any sport should be fixed not in relation to the demands created by the participants or would-be participants in that sport, but by what is reasonable and proper in the public interest. Any standard based upon demand would be impermanent and variable, and it would be possible for any given sport, by an excess of popularity, to require that the State should make available to it for organized gambling a number of days which, by its very excess, would be contrary to the public good. In the next place, just as in the case of racing, trotting has attracted, by reason of existing conditions, a degree of betting which is not likely to be exceeded within any reasonable number of years ahead and is likely enough to decrease. Inasmuch as it is this high degree of betting which has attracted the entry into the sport of so many horses by reason of the high rewards that it makes possible, it would be unwise to recommend a number of days based on the present excessive but temporary demand. At the same time it must be recognized that there is a widespread public demand for trotting, and that that demand will be stultified if reasonable conditions for the satisfaction of that demand are not created. 296. Although, therefore we are in principle, far from being disposed to provide further occasions for organized gambling and are satisfied that there are already enough galloping races in the country, yet we think that some moderate increase in the number of days allotted to trotting is necessary to the proper maintenance of that form of sport and is not inconsistent with the public welfare. Such an increase will certainly spread competition, and it may spread and not inflate the present volume of betting. It is impossible to be certain of the latter feature having regard to the way in which all past anticipations, however well founded, have been stultified in result. We do not, however, think that the increase in the number of days we have in mind will materially increase the volume of betting upon trotting. Its effect will, we anticipate, be to distribute it more amongst local centres. 297. After very careful and anxious consideration, and after paying the greatest regard to the forceful and judicious submissions made to us by the counsel for the Trotting Conference, we have come to the

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