FINANCE OF HUNT CLUBS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25551, 20 July 1948, Page 7

FINANCE OF HUNT CLUBS

TOTALISATOR REVENUE POLL "The Press” Special Service WELLINGTON, July 19. A scheme to pool resources with the object of assisting the Less financial clubs has been undertaken by the hunt clubs affiliated to the New Zealand Hunts Association. Of the 22 hunt clubs operating in New Zealand 15 have a totalisator permit to conduct one race meeting each year and seven have none. One of the seven, the Brackenfield Hunt Club held a permit until 1931 when it was sold to the Banks Peninsula Racing Club. The object of the totalisator permit is to provide the clubs with sufficient revenue to meet overhead expenses, such as wages to the hunt staff, the upkeep of the hounds, and other expenses incidental to the sport. The clubs with permits find the income from their race meetings necessary to enable them to function adequately and those without permits seldom have a working margin and are dependent a good deal upon the support of members or friends.

The new scheme, which has been undertaken voluntarily, has for its objects the succouring of the less fortunate clubs by those that can afford it. The revenue for the pool will be obtained by making an annual levy based on a percentage of totalisator turnover and the initial levy will be struck for the year ending July 31 this year. The committee set up to. administer the fund will have its first meeting in January, 1949. The committee comprises Messrs K. McK. Duncan and C. L. Orbell, representing clubs with totalisator permits, Messrs A. S. Sutherland and T. N. Kelly, representing those without permits, and Dr. A. McGregor Grant, president of the Nev/ Zealand Hunts Association, as chairman.