Existence Of Trotting Clubs Depends On T.A.B.

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28010, 3 July 1956, Page 5

Existence Of Trotting Clubs Depends On T.A.B.

TROTTING

“Any inroads upon the dividends of the Totalisator Agency Board for any purposes whatsoever would be disastrous to both racing and trotting, and would seriously jeopardise the existence of both snorts,’’ said the retiring president (Mr C. E. Hoy) in his address at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club last night. He was discussing the possible effects of a private bill, the Physical Welfare and Recreational Trust Bill, which was introduced to Parliament earlier in the year by Mr P. N. Holloway, M.P. for Heretaunga. “It must not be lost sight of.*’ said Mr Hoy, “that the board is the sole property of the raring and trottine .ports: it was organised by them, is controlled by them, and it can only function through the use of valuable and costly assets such as totalist-ators. grandstands and countless other amenities, all of which are owned and maintained at great expense by both sports.

“Further, it must not be overlooked that the board is providing a benefit to every taxpayer in the Dominion, irrespective of his interest in racing or trotting. The Government is receiving large sums in taxation from greatly increased revenue accruing from the operations of the board.’’

Much organisation and time had been needed to bring the off-course betting scheme to its present highlvorganised state, said Mr Hoy. and its profits should, and must, go to those who own it and depend on it for their existence. Any attemnt to divert the profits in any other direction had to be resisted with vigour. While discussing taxation. Mr Hoy mentioned that his club had paid or caused to be paid during the last year in income, totalisator. stakes, dividend, amusement and wages taxes £168.533, or about twice the amount paid to owners in stakes. This did not take into consideration the same taxes which had to be paid bv Addington Trotting Course. Ltd., in which his club had a share-holding of about 69 per cent. “I in no way deprecate this.” said Mr Hoy, “and, on the other hand. I think it is a national effort to be proud of.” Although his club had received a dividend of £26.368 from the Totalisator Agency Board, the profit for the year had been only £2681. This was sufficient evidence to show that there could be no violation of the agreement that the profits of the board were to be the sole property of the racing and trotting sports.

Decreased Receipts Like other clubs, his had suffered decreased totalisator turnover during the last year, said Mr Hov. To what extent this was due to the present credit restrictions was impossible to say, but it was tho”ght that they must have had some effect. The chib had more than stakes during the year, and although from the Totalisator Board drnnned by more than £4OOO the fact that a nrofit had b n en shown could be considered satisfactory. St'U-ep during the season amo”n+r.a 1o £84,975. an average of over £9440 a day. Th<"> stakes the nrevimi* year were £B4 225. Unde- the Rules of Trotting 80 per cent, of the net amount derived by clubs from the lisp of the totalisator on course during the preceding year had to be given in stakes.

said Mr Hoy. This year, the stakes given by his club had represented 112.23 per cent. Total on-course investments at the club's meetings had amounted to £1,072,681 10s, an average of £119.185 a day, against an average of £128.433 the previous year. Off-course investments for the year were £685.017. against £691.928 the previous year. j The usual overwhelming popularity of the smaller betting denominations was shown by the fact that 10s win and place tickets amounted to 78.2 per cent, of the tickets sold, compared with 19.3 per cent, for tickets of £l. and. 2.5 per cent, for tickets of £' denomination. On the doubles tct?lisator the 5s unit represented 72.3 per cent, of the tickets sold, while KF and £1 combined amounted to 26.9 per cent., and £5 units to only .8 per cent

“The problem of the large number nf maiden pacers endeavouring to gain promotion is a real one and' our club, in common with the Canterbury Park and New Brighton clubs, have each staged a non-tota’isator race for theshorses,’* said Mr Hoy. “More permits to be available without delay, seems to be the only possible answer to this major problem.” “By mutual arrangement with the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, it has been decided to hold the second dav of the co meeting on Thursday, November 8. which will mean that in carnival " r eek the dub wiH race on Tuesday. Thursday and Friday This arrangement is for only for this vear.

“The usual fourth day of the cim meeting will be held as a separate meeting on Saturday. November 24. Municipal elections will be held on Saturday. November 17. the day on which we would have raced normally, and racing is not allowed on poiitan courses on that day,” added Mr Hoy.