N.Z. RACING CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17814, 13 July 1923, Page 12

N.Z. RACING CONFERENCE.

ANNUAL MEETING. (bpxciai. to "thb peess.") WELLINGTON, July 12. The New Zealand Racing Conference was opened to-day, Sir George Clifford (President) presiding. PRESIDENT'S REPORT. The President submitted the following report ior the' season 19£5J-i23 : The past season will be memorable from the load of taxation under which racing clubs have staggered. Tt has been quite disproportionate to that lm posed upon other businesses or industries. The weight of it has been felt mast acutely by those catering for country districts. In many such cases tho undesirable course has necessarily been conceded by removing their race meetings to centres of population, and thus, in the effort to save their lives, depriving the bulk of the local residents of their annual holidays. A continuance of such deadly imposition would have driven many clubs out of existence and have tended to concentrate racing to a few more favourably situated courses. I will append to this report the memorandum which has been submitted to the authorities showing in its astounding detail the\ extraordinary variety of the claims upon us which, together, make one crushing whole. Tho baro figures speak for themselves: £ s. d. Totalisator Tax ... 137,644 1G 1 Dividend Tax ... 246,704 IS '2 Tax on Stakes ... 43,411 <J 6 Tax on Receipts, etc. ... 4,6d0 15 5 Amusement Tax ... 15,(380 0 '/ Land Tax ... 2,433 8 1 Income Tax ... 9,520 19 10 Total ... £460,075 19 2 Local Rates paid ... G,252 (J 4 Happily there is every piDspect of such a revision of these exactions as will considerably relieve tho pressure, and bring our burden more nearly in accord with that which all sections of the community are bound* to accept. \Se iiavp iost in the past twelve months many of our former associates Sir William Merries was an eutiiusiast, not only in our proceedings, but in the compilation of vaiuabie turf statistics; Mr A. Boyle and Mi H, X. Gorrie held high omce, and did good service in the Canterbury and Aucklanu Metropolitan Clubs, and witir Messrs R. Duder, M, l<'oley, L. Gutfiths and H. H. Jdayr assisted ua from time to time at these conferences. Since its inception tho ideal of this Conference hat, evei been to elevate the sport of racing, so as to secure 101 it the goodwifl of ail citizens unbliuded by prejudice. Obviously our future depends upon a general recognition that racing is a healthy recreation alike for mind and body, affording every varying interest and relaxation to tho toilers of the desk, the factory or tho field. Looking back upon tho past wo have done much towards clearing away abuses and misunderstandings. Allowing that some form of betting is essential, we have striven, with a great measure of success, to expel from our courses that which not only contributes nothing to their upkeep, but operates under conditions manifestly unfair to our patrons, ana open, when in unscrupulous hands, to unrestricted fraud. We have thus aimed at confining speculation to the mechanical toy which gives no credit, throws out no lure, and never evades its obligations, while, un- ; like its rival, it always pays its quota to the Htate. If any owners, as is alleged, disregard the undertaking as to bets imposed by Part XV. of the Rules of .Racing, it may be well to remind them that, apart from the dishonour attaching to the breach of a rule so worded, such a breach involves the risk of disqualification of themselves and their horses. Recent curtainments of weight-for-age races will have been noted wTtfi, regret by sportsmen as leaving a noticable blank in tho year's calendar. No leading racing club can afford thus to lessen the public attractiveness of its programmes. A continuous succession of handicaps should bo relieved by races of more than ephemeral interest. Such races undoubtedly influence its patrons to regard the local institution with something of pride,- and worthy | of enhanced support. They would attract larger attendance, and so prove remunerative even when singly considered they might be judged unduly costly. Not more than eight or at most nine of our clubs realise the l duty of encouraging the best type of racehorse available for their meetings. The ambition of every club should bo to ! do its share towards removing one of the most deserved reproaches of our 1 adversaries. The appointments of stipendiary stewards and racecourse inspectors have, in both cases, amply justinei themselves." It would be well U> more extended powers were given to the stipendiary stewards, who have now eam- ' ed the cohfidenco and gratitude of some who at first questioned the wisdom of the innovation. Most clubs ' have found them helpful, and their uninterrupted experience qualifies them i for dealing promptly with unusual occurrences. They should alsp be given administrative power to secure uniformity of practice in such details as tho lengthening of jockeys' stirrups, anQ many such matters. Above ail, they should have more power in following malpractices up from meeting to meeting. Local stewards' vision is often bounded by tbeir own racecourses, and most cases of fraudulently inconsistent running take at least two meetings to accomplish themselves. As to the inspectors, thpv have practically cleared our courses from undesiranlea of the loww type- -they have earned the warm approval of the authorities by the check thus created upon tho movements of the criminal classes, and where, in individual warnings thfiix acts have been criticised —as all such defences against _ evil-doers must invite criticism—their reasons have Justified them in the performance of an unpleasant duty A traveller from abroad has expressed amazement at the safety of his pockets on our racecourses, perhaps from "bitter experience elsewhere. In additfon to remission of taxation and some alleviation of the almost prohibitory railway charges' on racehorses, which press heavily on owners, and therefore on clubs, we may hope that some long-desired legislative reforms may be at last realised. Of these tho most important and most needed to ensure the observance of the law is the restoration of the right of secretaries of clubs to receive remittances for investment on the totalisator, thus diverting into legitimate channels the traffio which illegally pervades the streets and by-ways of our cities. The revenue derived from the diversion of the substantial amount now dealt with by street bootmakers would go far to compensate for concessions in taxation, while the postal and te'eeraph receipts would be naturally swollen. Secondly, we recmest withdrawal of the-ridiculous prohibition of the publication of dividends, which is a patent absurdity operating injuriously against the general public. Thirdly, we trust that the Legislature will provide means for running In divisions races which involve the serious danger at overcrowded fields. As the law at present stands we are judicially

r.dvised this cannot legally be done. The responsibility for accidents from this cause no longer rests with tlio Conference. Wo may point out that the present limit of eight races per day is the lowest consistent with essential provision for the- various classes of racehorses. Few will doubt that our recent legislation with regard to the licensing of trainers and jockeys has borne fruit. A small minority of them have since disgraced themselves, bringing discredit upon an honourable profession. Every leniency and opportunity to retrieve their good name has been shown to the offenders, and if they fail to respond the turf will be no sufferer by their absence. Tiie man or boy who leads a dissipated life in low company is unworthy of the trust inevitably reposed by owners and the public in every trainer and jockey. Appeals to the Conference have been more numerous of late, and we have to thank Messrs \\. E. Bidwill, E. Goodbehere, George Gould, li. L. Lane, J. 11. Ferrett, C. P. Skcrrett, K.C., 0. *'. Vallance, ana O. S. V/atkins for their services in this connexion. For some reason not easy to ascribe payments from the accident fund' continue to be heavy, and the prudence of raising the accident fee for next season to its original amount of 20s per horse may bo worth consideration. A summary pf the work done in administering the fund may not be without interest. Claims paid aggregate £40,129 4s Id during the twenty years of its existence. The receipts "from accident fees have been £3S,OSG 19s Cd, and from licenses £17,141 14s 7d. Expenses, including legal and medical charges, have absorbed fo oti. which have been more than covered by interest on deposit and investments. The trustees have in hand or invested £14,102 16s lOd. There is no doubt that this institution, sa cheaply run, has been cf immense benefit to owners and their employees, while in view of Pin possibility of a sudden heavy call upon the fund it is inadvisable that thp reserve should be depleted. The management of the apprentice jockeys' fund involves a complicated tabulation of figures, but the work is well repaid by the.satisfaction and security obtained through the payment of the fees to the Conference, their safeguard in the Post Office Savings Bank, and the ease with which they can be dealt with on the expiration of the apprentices' term. The increasing popularity of racing is proved by the crowded state of our enclosures, by the numerical advance in the nominations for future events, and by the eagerness of the people for better facilities when viewing the contests. It rests with us to ensure that the sport deserves suoh popular success. Our part is to remove all reproach from it, and to secure fair play to all participants in the noblest of pastimes. Memorandum Embodying Matters of the Utmost Importance for the Welfare of Racing, Trotting, and Hunt Clubs in the Dominion. 1. With the object of remedying the injustice-caused by the accidental inclusion of racing, trotting and hunt clubs under the law passed (Land and Income Tax Act, 1916, section 85), to make all profit 3 or gains dorived from the use or occupation of land subject to income-tax, I submit the following draft clause for insertion in your next Land and Income-Tax Bill: "In calculating the assessable income as denned by the Land and Income Tax Act, 1916, of any horse-rac-ing, trotting, or hunt club, there shall, as from the income vear ending March 81st, 1923, be deducted from the incomo of such club the total amount of the takings and earnings of any totalisator, and of payments for admission and other fees receivI ed by such club in the income year, | s which are liable to Stamp Duty by virtue of the provisions of section 142 of the Stamp Duties Act, 1908, and sections 2 and 3 of the Stamp Duties Amendment Act, 1909." The existing forma of special taxation undoubtedly imply that racing, trotting, and hunt clubs Bhould be ex empt from tire general taxing provisions of section 85 of the Land and Income Tax Act, 1916, especially when you consider the effect of such special taxation, which is as follows: — (a) 2J per cent, on the gross amount invested on the totalisator. (b) 5 per cent, on totalisator dividends (this tax was increased from 2$ per cent, to 5 per cent, by the Finance Act, 1921, No. 2 section 17). j(e) 2J per cent, on payments for admission to racecourses or any part thereof (these receipts arc also subject to amusement tax and income tax, which makes the same moneys subject to three separate forms of taxation). (d) 2£ per cent, on licenses and privileges (these includo receipts from the sale of race cards, booths, luncheons, receipts from cloak rooms, etc.). (e) Amusement tax (this includes payments for admission to racecourses or any part thereof, which aro already distinctly tared at the rate of 2J per cent, as shown under item (c) abovementioned. Members' subscriptions are also subject to amusement tax, and tho per cent. tax on payments for admission, and are further liable for incomotax). (£) 10 per cent, on stakes (this tax was increased from 1 per cent, to 10 per cent, by tho Finance Act, 1921, No. 2, section 16. It was made originally to cover income-tax on owners' racing transactions). 2. The existing taxation upon the racing, trotting, and hunt clubs and horse owners, and the cost? of transit of racehorses by rail is having a very injurious effect upon the management of the clubs, and upon the owners. It is necessary, in the interests of all I connected with the sport of horse raci ing, that amending legislation should \ be introduced without delay, and I submit, as a means of granting the relief required, the aforementioned draft clause for insertion in the next Land and Income Tax Bill, and the following proposals: — (a) Belief from the payment of amusement tax, as the payments for admission to racecourses are ; already subject to a tax of 2$ per cent, under Section 3 of tho Stamp Duties Amendment Act, 1909 j and further are liable to income tax. (b) The repeal of Section 16 of tho Finance Act, 1921, No. 2, which will reduce the 5 per cent, tax on totalisator dividends to 2£ per cent, a 3 formerly. (c) The repeal of Section 17 of the Finance Act, 1921, No. 2, which will reduce the 10 per cent, tax on stakes to 1 per cent, as formerly. (d) Eeduction in the cost of transit of racehorses by rail. S. As a means, not only of providing very substantially for any loss of revenue which may ensue to the Gov*:., eminent by the adoption of the abovementioned relief from taxation, but in order to remove the irritation caused to law-abiding citizens, I cannot too strongly impress upon you the necessity of introducing the legislation contained in Sir Edwin Mitch elson's Gaming Act Amendment Bill of last year which was unfortunately stranded in the hurried rush of business it had passed through the Legislative

Council. I may refer to three of tho benefits this Bill aimed at bestowing. First, in order to combat tho evil of street and other forms of bookmakiug, provision was made for the public to transmit money for investment upon the totalizator to secretaries of racing clubs. The investor would thus escape from the limited prices and the barred horses of tho bookmakers, who contribute no revenue to the State or to racing. The law at present debars the bookmaker from following his trade; it is illogical to leave open 'to him the practical monopoly of it beyond tho precincts of the racecourse. Secondly., tho Bill provided for tho removal of the absurdity _ oi' prohibiting publication of dividends. This statutory folly assists the breaker of the iaw, and it serves no good purpose, and reaches its climax when newspapers are forbidden to publish at what price "Papyrus" won the Epsom Derby. Thirdly, the lost Bill provided for a double totalisator when clubs desire to install that special machine. This, too, was a step to better protection for tho public, who desire the full rate of odds for the moderate investor, with the certainty that the picked investment will not be refused. May it not be long bofore these reasonable requests are conceded. 4. The Racing Conference is doing everything possible to meet the grave danger of overcrowded fields, and as o. means of overcoming the imminent risk to life and limb, legislation is necessary. The following clause to amend Section 7 of tho Gaming Amendment/ 1910, is submitted for inclusion in the first Gaming Bill, in order to remove the present statutory restriction on tho running of races in divisions; — , (1) Section 7 of the Gaming Amendment Act, 1910, is hereby repealed. (2) Tho totalisator shall not be opened for the purposo of receiving investments more than eight times on any one day at any race meeting. (3) At any race meeting at which a license to. use the totalisator is not granted, not more than eight races shall be run on any one day. (4) If at any race meeting a breach of this section is committed, every member, officer, agent, orservant of the Racing Club having control of that race meeting shall, unless he provos that he • was not a consenting party to that breach, be guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction by a fine not exceed-' ing fifty pounds. The balance-sheet of the general trustees' accident fund was adopted. The conference approved of the concessions given to certain clubs in reference to stakes. Eemits Discussed. Although at one stage it looked as if the sitting of the Conference would be a lengthy one, excellent progress was made with the remits this afternoon, andl the delegates, sticking steadily to their work, disposed of the whole of the business just before 7 o'clock. One of the principal questions discussed in tho later stages was tho rule in regard to weighing. It will be remembered that last year the Conference struck out the provision for an allowance in case the jockey was unable to .draw his correct weight. In the "past twelve months several races have been lost because of short weight, and eight clubs had given notice o? motion to reinstate the allowance in eome form. After discussion, the proposal which was agreed to was that brought forward the Southland Racing Club, specifying that if a jockey cannot draw his proper weight the clerk of the scales Bhall allow him onei pound. A proposal brought forward by tho Hiawke's Bay Jockey Club to give olubs no option but to suspend a jockey responsible for a cross or jostle, whether by negligence or intention, was rejected as being too harsh. Power has been given to stewards, honorary or stipendiary, to order jockeys to lengthen their stirrup leathers in flat racea as well as jumping faces. At present paid officials are forbidden to bet at meetings at which they officiate under penalty of a fine not exceeding 50 sots, as well as disqualification at tho discretion of the stewards or committee, and this rule ha/3 been extended to apply to honorary clerks of scales, judges, starters, or handicappers. The President urged tho necessity of strengthening the Accident Fund, and the fee was raisod from 10s to 2fts. A .proposal brought forward on behalf of the Marten Jockey Club, that the Conference should set up a committee to consider and report to a future meeting as to the best method! of altering tho present constitution of the Conference, so as to give more equitable representation _ to country clubs, was lost on a division. Sir George Clifford was once again elected president. The Hon. O. Samuel, who proposed his election, paid a high tribute to his_ splendid work in the interests of racing. In thanking the delegates for his election, Sir George Clifford praised the. efficiency of the Conference office/ staff. $ (?ESSS ASSOCIATE 01? CTLEOBA.M.) Avondale and Takapuna Olubs. The committee reported that they had carried the following resolution with regard to the resolution passed at last meeting of tho Racing Conference relative to the ad ministration of the affairs of the Avondale and Takapuna Jockey Clubs. The report of Messrs W. E. Bidwill and F. Earl has been referred to and considered by tho Dates Committee. This report, which is a plain statement of facts unaccompanied by any comment—comment being evidently quite unnecessary—makea highly unpleasant reading. The action of members of the committee of the Avondale Jockey Club after being allowed their expenses and outlay upon a lavish scale, paying themselves in addition considerable sums by way of remuneration for services rendered, is a proceeding hitherto happily unknown in the history of New Zealand uu-iug. There are other unsatisfactory features in the manner in which the committee of the Avondale Jockey Club has drawn upon the funds of the club, particularly heavy payments made to one member under the heading "solicitor's charges,'' and it is not surprising that the auditor should have resigned by way of protest. Had the constitution and government of this club remained as it was at the time of the happening of the regrettable incidents referred to, it might have been necessary to seriously consider whether any dates at all should have been allotted to it. In view, however, of the facts that members of tho committee coacerned, and also that another member of the committee and also that the secretary have recently died, and that as a result of the Racing Commission's report the club has been reconstructed with satisfactory rules and ample membership, and that what is here complained of is in all probability not likely to recur, the Dates Committee have decided to take no action beyond this expression of their views. Regarding the Takapuna Jockey Club: This club has been reconstructed, and its affairs are now

in perfect order. Everything men- , tioned by the Kacing Commission has -been attended to, but both the Avondale and Takapuna Clubs should construct properly-equipped training tracks. This they have undertaken to do. At the time of the visit of Messrs Earl and Bidwill the training tracks of these clubs appear to have been in a deplorable condition, quite unlit tor training purposes. ' Considering the status of these two clubs, we consider they should attend to this matter at once. Stipendiary Stewards' Beport The stipendiary stewards' report stated that the management and control of race meetings during the past season had not shown the improvement th;it might have been expected, except in a few cases. The control of jockey's rooms was still lax. Tho control of the birdcage, however, had unproved to a very marked extent. In very manv cases a better system of weighing "out horses should be insisted upon, and the official clerk should be practised in regard to weighing rooms on all courses under the control of the conference. Stricter compliance with tho conditions laid down in Part 23, rule 11, should bo enforced. Wires under tho inner rails on race tracks should not bo allowed, as they were a source of danger, and barbed wire should not be tolerated on any boundary fence or any part of a racecourse. Tho starters in many cases were still very lax in carrying out the conditions of Part 14, rule 6, with regard to unruly horses and stipendiary stewards should be given some control oyer vicious or unruly horses at starting posts. There was a need for a uniform code of flag signals. The punctuality of starting times and the closing of the totalisator had been decidedly on the up grade. Racing had maintained a good standard, but in many instances the fields had been too large. Many cases of corrupt practices had occurred, but the conduct of jockeys generally had shown a marked improvement since the inauguration of licensing. Eeturns from the totalisator had been well maintained, despite the financial stringency, and the returns would be vastly increased if more energetic measures were taken to suppress the inordinate amount of betting with bookmakers. The attention of clubs, in many cases, should be drawn to the flimsy nature and construction of hurdles, and steps should be taken to again purge the list of registered colours. The rules regarding gentlemen riders would bear amending, the designation of riders under this heading being quite a misnomer. Chief Racecourse Inspector's Report. Tho Stipendiary Stewards '• Commit-. tee submitted the report of the chief racecourse inspector for the 1922-23 racing year on the results of racecourse supervision. Inter alia, it says: The system of racecourse supervision sanctioned by the Conference has now been in operation since November, 1921, and ample time has elapsed to justify an expression of opinion as to whether or not the objects aimed at have been achieved, in order to avoid the new broom sweeps clean accusation, we have since November, 1921, been gradually increasing the pressure upon persons whose presence on racing and trotting courses waa considered undesirable. It has been a weeding out process, and to-day we claim that our courses are practically free of the known and proved dangerous class of individual who a few years ago infested such places of public resort. Since November Ist, 1921, to June 30th, 1923, we have excluded, warned off, or ejected from different courses 652 persons. Tho law under which we act is, I think, effective and sufficient, for the time being at any rate. On the question of lav/ the chief inspector said that if it was seriously intended to reconstruct tho Gaming Act, they should strongly urge that the Government be asked to amend Sub-Section 5 of Section 33 to make it read: "Every person who commits a breach of any regulation ma.de under the authority of this section may be removed from a racecourse by any member, officer, agent, or servant of the racing club by which such regulation was made, or by any constable, and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding twenty pounds (suggested , addition) or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two months." We also recommend, says the report, to amend Sub-Section 4 of Section 4 of the Act of 1910 to read: "Any person so removed shall not on day of such removal re-enter the racecourse, and if he goes to re-enter he may without warrant bo arrested by any constable and taken before a Magistrate or any two Justices, and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months." The provision at present applies only to bookmakers. The suggestion is that it should cover all persons coming within the scope of the regulations. Since the licensing of jockeys and others by the committee of the Conference, a marked improvement in the behaviour of licensees has been noticed, particularly by those who aro inclined to irresponsibility. Bookmakers still flourish under the respectable sounding title of members of the "Dominion Sportsmen's Association." Agents attend towns where races are held and telegraph the results, dividends, and Bcratchings. The Telegraph Department still covers their operations. Wo keep a very close watch on racing and trotting courses for their agents, and I am satisfied that betting with bookmakers on racecourses on race days has been reduced to a minimum, and only a few small totalisator bettors resort to it, whom we detect from time to time. The report was adopted without discussion. Business Transacted. Following is the most important business transacted by the Conference:— It waa resolved that the programme of every meeting at which the totalisator is used shall include, if the meeting extends over two, three, or more days, at least one race (not being a maiden race, or a race in which two-year-olds can compete or race for a less distance than seven furlongs) in which only apprentice jockeys shall be eligible to ride, provided that, on the stipendiary stewards' 'certificate, that no suitable apprentice jockey can bo engaged for the race, a licensed jockey may be substituted carrying a penalty of 141b. In such races no rider shall I be allowed whip or spur. An Auckland recommendation, which was adopted, gives the committee power to run a race in divisions where the number of starters exceeds 20, and where it is considered advisable in tho interests of safety. Rule 4 was amended to read:—No race shall be run over a distance of less than five furlongs, except races for two-year-olds prior to October Ist in each year. A new clause was added to rule 9 that no horse in which any person whose last application for a trainer's or jockey's license has not been granted by the Licensing Committee, or who is the wife of, or who resides with, e or is employed by any such person (always provided that any such person has not been granted exemption by the Licensing Committee from effect of this clause) ha 3 any interest shall be entered or start for any race and any such horse, if he shall start.'shall be disqualified for the race. An amendment of part 18, rule 3 enables an apprentice jockev to claim the following allowances: if he has not

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ridden ten winners 51b, if he has ridden ten winners but not 20 winners, 31b. Alterations m jockeys' fees were made as follows:-Flat race: if S sr a UU llT ble t0 the winaer « 30 *£' £ nd ,, does n °* exceed 100 sovs, *£, hurdle races and steeplechases, fblfowT I" 1 " (I ° a) Was ad « iollows:—Any person who, prior to any V" 1 * h *££ horse, a jockey or an apprentice iockev some other person, must, in the first t0 ' and *tSi the pSmission of, the employer of anv auci jockey or apprentice 7 jockey? 7 Anj than TlJ\ I d ~ Bum of not le « of the aSw ? * he strict Committee of £!v« Ct an which the employer lS D to weigtouf £? *?? *» » eil * the birdcSS '° r for bein S late *