STRATFORD CLUB

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 262, 3 August 1939, Page 13

STRATFORD CLUB

Less Successful Year Dominion Special Service. STRATFORD, August 1. As a result of being allotted an unfavourable date for the one-day autumn meeting, the Stratford Racing Club’s year was not quite so successful as was the previous year.' After allowing £642 for depreciation, however, the profit is shown as £lO6O. The president, Mr. J. D. Malone, said he hoped better results would be obtained from the one-day fixture this year, as the club had obtained a date for a spring meeting to be held early in November. A spring meeting was not at present held in Taranaki, said Mr. Malone, and he did not think there were any factors which would militate against the success of the fixture, with the exception of the weather. The date chosen would not conflict with agricultural and pastoral shows in the province. Dealing with finances, the treasurer, Mr. R. R. Tyrer, said that though the profit for the past year was about £5OO less than that made the year before, there was a considerable amount expended on improvement work during the past season which more than compensated for the deficiency. Principal items in the race meeting account were: Stakes and trophies, £5019; totalizator tax, £2882; tax refund, £500; dividend duty, £3152. Totalizator receipts amounted to £12,555 and gate receipts £2251. Mr. Tyrer mentioned that £55 had been paid in social -security tax.

Mr. R. Masters said that he was surprised racing clubs had to pay the social security levy while other sporting bodies escaped. The race meeting account showed that a refund of £5OO wa<s made on totalizator taxation, said Mr. Masters. That refund was more or less of a temporary nature and might be discontinued at any time. He considered clubs should attempt to have it made a permanent rebate. It was begun during the depression with the object of giving the smaller country clubs assistance, and it might, for all anyone knew, be discontinued at any time, which would be a very serious matter.