Superannuation Sought

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31041, 22 April 1966, Page 6

Superannuation Sought

fJV’.Z. Press Association> ■ WELLINGTON. A superannuation scheme and increased cover for death or injury were called for when the Jockeys’ Association made submissions to the Racing Conference's committee of inquiry in Wellington on Wednesday. Four members of the committee heard the submissions. They were Messrs N. Thomson. the acting chairman. A. Macnab, F. H. Plunkett and H. M. B. de Lawtour. The committee's chairman (Mr F. F. Reid) was indisposed. The association was represented by its chairman (Mr N. B. Holland), its secretary (Mr J. G. Murchison) and a solicitor, Mr T. De Cleene. INQUIRY SOUGHT The association requested an inquiry into the present insurance scheme for jockeys and the general administration of the trust fund. Four points raised were:— The absence of compensation for injury suffered travelling to and from a meeting. A request for the conference to raise with the Government and the Inland Revenue Department the possibility of having the 24 per cent deduction declared tax-deductible. The inadequacy of cover for death or permanent injury. The desirability of a superannuation scheme. The widows and children of jockeys killed outside em-

ployment said the submission. were left with' nothing. The early retiring age of jockeys also made such a scheme desirable. HIGHER FEES The association also called ' for an increase in winning' riding fees, from four per' cent to five per cent in flat races and from nine per cent • to 10 per cent in jumping races. In support of this the association gave figtires showing that 27 jockeys in'New Zealand earned £l5OO or more annually, 21 earned £lOOO to i £l5OO. 41 earned £5OO to £999 and 116 earned less than £5OO.

• Hurdle horsemen's earnings ■ were mainlv between £5OO and £999. Apprentices were not in--1 eluded. Mr Murchison said riders earning less than £5OO were neglecting their profession, particularly when it came to riding work, because they • I were forced to take secondary jobs. This was detrimental to their riding. Another clause in the association's submissions suggest- . ed that the minimum weight be increased from 7-0 to 7-5. This would prevent “the unhealthy wasting and abuses to which jockeys subjected themselves to achieve the minimum weight.