N.Z. RACING CONFERENCE

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 159, 7 July 1926, Page 10

N.Z. RACING CONFERENCE

THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS.

UNJUST TAXATION.

REDUCTION ASKED FOR.

The New Zealand Racing Conference is being held at Wellington to-day. The president, Sir Geo. Clifford, is his address, said in reviewing the events of the past twelve months it deserved especial record that the Hon. C. P. Skerrett, who so often lent his great ability to the solution of problems brought before our appeal court, had been appointed to the high office of Chief Justice of New Zealand, and it was with reflected pride that they tendered their sincerest congratulations on his appointment. Since the last meeting the appeal court had benefited by the services of the Hon. Sir E. Mitchelson, K.C.M.G., M.L.C., and of Messrs. T. Eldon Coates, George Gould, G. N. McLean, J. H. Perrett, Harold A. Russell and J. R. L. Stanford, to whom they owed thanks. "Members will join with mc," continued the president, "in regret at the decease of Messrs. G. B. Starky and W. Pollard and of Dr. E. W. Sharman, all of local prominence in racing circles. Government's Undue Hampering. "The disadvantages under which racing has struggled during the past few years have been a serious drawback to the provision throughout the country of improved facilities for the enjoyment of the sport. The mental and physical relief of our pastime to the toilers of the countryside, and of the shops and offices of our towns is invaluable. It does not mean a sedentary watching of a few participants in an active game, for it involves a constant and vigorous movement of the spectators to various points of vantage. The Government, which values the well-being of the citizens, may readily effect an economic gain by refraining from the present undue hampering of our racing clubs by crippling taxation. The fresh air and healthy interest of our racecourses may prove more beneficial than the extension of many hospitals. Apart from this view, there seems no excuse for the taxation of racing far beyond the rate at which any other institution, industry or property is assessed. Much of this load is of recent imposition, chiefly as a war tax, and we now ask for a reduction ta such an amount as is just. The taxation paid during the previous and current season is set forth in the following figures: —

"T\ue only relief vouchsafed last year might almost be called sarcastic, as it eonsisted-of a refund of totalisatof duty to the amount of £250 only, but so hedged with conditions that few clubs could obtain any actual benefit from so guarded an offer. We appeal now for some liberality to avert the imminent catastrophe of the closing down of many country clubs. Such, clubs have been compelled to resort to the transfer of their figures to metropolitan courses to obviate calamity, thus depriving local residents of their share in a national sport. This grievance could be averted by the concessions we claim. The Gaming Acts. "Amendment • the present Gaming Acts is urgently needed. It was promised that this would be enacted lastyear, but the fatal illness of the Prime Minister and some sinister influences impeded the course of legislation. I cannot do better than repeat what I said last year:—We look for the removal of the wholly absurd prohibition of the publication of dividends. Why should the public be shut off from news which law-breakers circulate freely among themselves and to their confederates? Why not to law-abiding citizens? Clubs which desire to install double totalise* tors should be authorised to establish them." The deletion from the Gaming Act of 1924 of the clause empowering racing and trotting clubs to change their constitution from racing to trotting, and vice versa, is suggested. It is acknowledged that this option is liable to create two discordant factions, and to foment discord. Where desirable such changes should be sanctioned by both the Racing and Trotting Conferences before becoming effective. Great importance should be attached to harmonious working between kindred associations for the promotion of sport. In this connection I would call attention to the action of the Forbury Park Trotting Club in suddenly arranging for the alteration in the fixed dates of one of its meetings, thus seriously jeopardising a contemporary fixture of the South Canterbury Jockey Club, and clashing with a date fixed months before. This appeared an .unsportsmanlike action, and it is to be hoped that executives of etch conference will take measures to prevent such usurpations. I may here, as information to the conference, describe the concessions hitherto made by us to the trotting sport, inasmuch as we include in our programmes trotting events equivalent !to 13J days of eight races apiece, while out of the 33 totalisator trotting clubs 20 hold their meetings on racing clubs' courses. Inspectors and Stipendiaries. With regard to administration, the work of the racecourse inspectors ha 3 been invariably of the greatest service both in freeing our courses from the undesirable class, and in checking the flow of criminals who follow gatherings of all sorts, from paying us their attentions. The stipendiary stewards have done such good work that, in my opinion, their powers should be greatly enlarged, especially » s regards the conduct of jockeys, and any seriously continued habit "of unfair riding. Such extension I feel would he beneficial, sentences so imposed being» of course, subject to appeal. The number of accidents entitling riders to call upon the accident fund, and. the higher scale of payments consequent upon the provisions of the Workers Compensation Act. necessitate an addition to the fees from which revenue is derived. During tliis year £(i 034 has been paid in claims, and since the establishment of the fund in 1903 over £50.0W> all of which burden would otherwise have fallen upon owners. It will thus be recognised that this insurance scheme has very largely benefited both owners and jockeys. It has further been administered at a cost almost insignificant in comparison to the business involve , and its merit may be further testified j>7 its adoption by other racing authorities which have investigated our t-ys.tem, .

1924-25. 1925-26. £ s. d. Totalisator Tax (25 p.c.) 157,704 0 3 Dividend Tax (3 p.c.) 283.064 0 6 Stakes Tax (5 p.c.) 22.5S0 11 6 Receipts Tax (2J p.c.) 4,740 7 G £ s. i. 150,904 2 S 271,192 14 3 21,981 15 5 4,611 8 2 Amusement Tax 15,207 13 10 Land Tax 2,819 2 2 Total 4S6.205 15 0 Local Kates 7,048 14 7 14,207 1 1 2,768 18 7 466,266 0 3 S.490 7 8