Ashburton T.C. President Sees Need For Tax Relief

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30531, 28 August 1964, Page 5

Ashburton T.C. President Sees Need For Tax Relief

If ever a case was made out in support of the submissions to the Government by the New Zealand Racing and Trotting Conferences for some relief from the burden of taxation then the accounts of the Ashburton Trotting Club provided a striking example, said the retiring president of the club (Sir A. J. Nicoll) in his report presented at its annual meeting yesterday.

Mr Nicoll said that although the club finished the year with a credit of £2400, £lB5O of the total income was derived from interest and dividends on investments, while th > farm account yielded a net profit of £720. The financial result of the actual racing showed a loss of £2OO, said Mr Nicoll. This was in spite of fine race days, excellent attendances, and champion horses competing in some events, including Cardigan Bay and Vanderford.

“We do not have far to look to discover the reason for the loss,” said Mr Nicoll. “A sum of £22,852 was paid to the Government in taxation. If that is the position with the Ashburton club, one of the most progressive in New Zealand, then the outlook is grim for some of the other clubs. “It is to be hoped that we shall not see a recurrence of the situation of 30 years ago when six clubs were forced to abandon their permits because of a lack of funds.” “Trotting has been told to ‘put its house in order' before any major relief can be given by the Government. I suggest to you that in the case of the great majority of clubs, certainlv including our own, that their house is already in order It is to be hoped that the demand for centralisation, with its proposed move of a few clubs from uneconomic courses, will not be used as a red herring for deferring our just claims for relief. Building Plans Two vears aco it was announced that the club s buildins scheme would begin as soon as the committee considered the time opportune, said Mr Nicoll. 'With two-thirds of our I present income derived from in-1 vestments it can he seen that careful thought will have to be given before we spend most of 1

these funds on improvements.” Excellent racing, with large fields, was a feature of all four meetings held during the year, said Mr Nicoll. The club was once again pleased to have a reigning champion—Cardigan Bay in the recent season—competing in its Flying Stakes event.

In the 10 years this event has been held it has more than justified its establishment, said Mr Nicoll. It provided a dress rehearsal for the New Zealand Cup, and had come to be recognised as one of the leading events of the trotting year in New Zealand. President's Services Members spoke in appreciation of the outstanding service given to the club by Mr Nicoll. Mr Nicoll has served on the club's committee since 1922, and has been chairman for 12 years and president for the last nine years. Mr Nicoll took over the chairmanship of the club from his late father, who was president for 49 years. Mr V. W. Russell commended Mr Nicoll on upholding the very high standard of his father, whose efforts, he said, had been largely responsible for establishing trotting as a major sport in New Zealand. Mr Nicoll was also compli mented on his services on the New Zealand Trotting Confer ence. Nobody in the country had a better knowledge of trotting than Mr Nicoll, said Mr Russell ; Appreciation was also expressed to Mrs Nicoll for her help to j wards the club's race days.

Mr A. T. Smith, president of the Methven Trotting Club, suggested that a feature race on the Ashburton Club’s programme should be named in honour of Mr Nicoll.. He was told that this matter was already in hand and had been discussed by the committee.

Mr Nicoll expressed appreciation of the help of committee members during his term of office. He said a factor in the success of the club was the practical experience and knowledge of the cotnmittee, nearly all of whom owned and raced horses. Many bred horses as well. This stood the • club in good stead in understanding the problems of all sections, who collectively contributed to the continued success of the sport in the district.

At a meeting of the committee after the annual meeting, Mr D. M. Bruce was appointed a member of the committee fo fill the vacancy resulting from the appointment of Mr V. C. North, as treasurer.

Halberg Back | In Work "The Press” Special Service INVERCARGILL, August 27. Halberg, one of Southland’s top trotters, was yesterda-y sent north to join his half-sister. Flying Maiden, as a member of : D. G. Jones's Templeton team. Halberg was in light work most of the winter along with Flying Maiden and should not require much to top him off for early spring racing. The Hal Tryax trotter was not raced a great deal as a four-year-old last season when he was a winner and three times placed Halberg will have classes io suit him in Canterbury in the next few weeks and as a five-vear-old he will be expected to live up to his outstanding juvenile form.