115

311. The Gaming Amendment Act of 1914 first made provision in that behalf. By section 2of that Act the Minister of Internal Affairs was authorized to grant not more than eight totalizator licences to hunt clubs. By the Gaming Amendment Act, 1920, he was authorized to grant an additional eight to such clubs, and such additional licences were duly granted in accordance with the recommendation of the Commission mentioned in section 3of that Act. This total of sixteen licences made provision for the grant of a licence to all then existing hunt clubs. 312. The reason actuating the Legislature in making special provision for hunt clubs no longer exists. At the time of the outbreak of World War I, and again at the close of it, the horse was still a factor in warfare, and the characteristics of hunting led to the development of a weightcarrying type of horse eminently suited to military purposes. To-day the horse has ceased to be an essential of war. On the other hand, the desirability of providing some form of healthy outdoor recreation in the country districts as a means of checking the drift of population to urban localities has given an importance from a new angle to the fostering of the sport of hunting. • 313. Reasoned submissions and equally reasoned evidence in support of the several applications were given not only by the New Zealand Hunts Association, but also by the various new hunt clubs seeking the same privileges as those enjoyed by the clubs existing in 1920. We were much impressed by the enthusiasm and sincerit}?" of those putting forward their cases. We were impressed, too, with the desirability of encouraging the sport. It is playing no mean part in providing healthy outdoor recreation for people in the country and is providing desirable occasions for social intercourse. At the same time we could not but feel that any increase in the number of totalizator permits tor hunt clubs could not be justified. 314. We have approached the solution of this problem from a standpoint different from that suggested to us. There can be no doubt but that the intention of the Legislature in granting the original authority to issue totalizator permits to hunt clubs in 1914 and in granting an extension of that authority in 1920 was not to give an additional day's racing with betting facilities to the people in the localities where hunt clubs were functioning. The intention must, we think, have been to provide a means of financing the sport of hunting generally. The provision made for every then existing club lends weight to that conclusion. We feel justified, in consequence, in coming to the conclusion that those hunt clubs which are holders of totalizator permits are, in •effect, trustees for the sport of hunting. To some extent this has been recognized by them in practice.