RUGBY FINANCES

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 186, 4 May 1933, Page 13

RUGBY FINANCES

Payment of Income Tax N.Z. UNION PROTESTS Although the past year resulted in an excess of expenditure over income of £944/11/1, the financial position is very sound, states the annual report of the New Zealand Rugby Union. An item which appears on the bal-ance-sheet for the first time is that of income tax, £3Ol/9/5. This covers the period 1929-33. “In the past, sports bodies have been immune from income tax.” continues the report, “but apparently now, in its search for revenue, the Government has called upon this union, as well as affiliated unions, to pay income tax. “The committee is of the opinion that amateur sports bodies, whose funds are used solely for the promotion of healthy sport and recreation among the young manhood of the Dominion, should not be called upon to pay this tax. By making substantial grants for the purchase of footballs for use by schools, and providing free, copies of rules and books of instruction to the masters for their guidance in coaching the boys, it is felt the union is fulfilling an important part in the education of the youth of the Dominion. “The funds of the union are also utilised in providing playing fields throughout the Dominion, and this relieves local bodies of an obligation to provide open spaces on which to play games. When the grounds are not used for playing Rugby they are used by other amateur sports bodies for the carrying on of their games. “Surely it was never intended,” the report adds, “that amateur sports bodies should be called upon to pay such a tax. Every effort is being made to obtain relief from the taxation imposed, and the assistance of all unions is asked in this direction.” Expenditure for Year. The union’s expenditure for the year amounted to £3OOO/10/8, and the income to £2055/18/9. Among the principal items on the expenditure side was a sum of £725, comprising grants to schools. The tour of the North Island by the Maori representative side cost the union £484/14/7, but the profits, if any, of the various matches were retained by the unions visited. The Prince of Wales Gup match resulted in a Joss of £174/15/-. Tht Australian four cost the union £lO3/7/3, and would have been considerably more expensive had It not been for the profit of £295/0/2 shown by the match against Wellington prior to the team’s departure. A refund of £279 16/4 was received from the New South Wales Union towards the assembly and disbandment expenses and steamer fares to Sydney, which amounted to £324/10/-. The North v. South match at Christchurch showed a net profit of £384 5/8. Delegates’ expenses, which totalled £271/2/1, showed an increase on the previous year owing to the holding of a special general meeting to consider the question of the replacement of injured players. 'The union spent £24/10/5 in providing footballs for relief workers’ camps. The union’s income was derived from the profit on the inter-island match, subscriptions from unions, £l6O/11/6, and interest, £l5lO/9/7.