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307. In the foregoing recommendations we have recommended the allotment of licences for nineteen additional days and the transfer of two existing one-day licences. In recommending the transfer of the Cheviot day to Rangiora, we have been actuated by the fact that the Cheviot Club lacks the essentials of establishment. It has no available course and no proper amenities. In addition, it is too isolated to have any assurance of a sufficiently numerous attendance of competitors to make a meeting worth while from a racing point of view, or sufficiently attractive as a social occasion. The club has, of late years, raced at Rangiora, where its meetings have drawn large attendances, fields that have necessitated numerous divisions, and substantial totalizator turnovers. We think, however, that the Rangiora Club should admit to membership such members of the Cheviot Club as are desirous of joining. 308. In recommending the transfer of the licences from Kaikoura to the Marlborough Club we were influenced by several considerations. Members of the Commission visited the Kaikoura course and found that it is not now and is not susceptible of being converted into a satisfactory course. It is wholly unequipped with the necessary buildings. In addition, the general locality is too isolated to assure the club of the attendance of a reasonable number of competitors, all of whom would have to travel over long distances. The lack of competition would be accentuated by the smallness of the stakes which the club would be able to offer. The isolation of the district would be some reason for maintaining the identity of the club, provided it could race economically on its own local course. We are satisfied, however, that Kaikoura can never be other than an unsatisfactory racing centre, and there is no use in leaving a licence with a club which cannot use it to good effect, particularly when, as here, the use of it by this club will not contribute to the relief of the difficulties which the increased popularity of trotting has created. 309. We make in relation to our recommendations the final comment that every club to which the issue of a new licence is proposed will have the use of an established course, equipped with sufficient amenities and totalizator facilities to enable a meeting to be conducted efficiently and with due regard to the comfort of the public. In no case is any capital expenditure involved. SECTION 6.—APPLICATIONS BY HUNT CLUBS 310. We had five applications for totalizator permits from five hunt clubs —namely, the Eastern Southland Hunt Club, the Mahia Hunt Club, the Maramarua Hunt Club, the Opotiki Hunt Club, and the Wairarapa Hunt Club. Before discussing these applications in detail it is desirable to recite briefly the history of the special totalizator licences granted to hunt clubs.
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