MAGIC WHISTLE

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 109, 10 May 1932, Page 4

MAGIC WHISTLE

WELCOME RELIEF 1

TOTALISATOR TAXATION

POSITION OF SMALL CLUBS

While the projected remission'by the Government of 1 per cent, in the totalisator tax is welcomed, it is only a drop in the ocean. The weakness of the concession lies in the fact that the smaller clubs, the majority of whom are in financial difficulties, will /benefit very little by it. Two very recent instances are the Marton Jockey Club and Nelson Trotting Club, two bodies seriously up against it financially. The recent meeting at Marton saw a modest turnover, and now the club is entitled to deduct from its totalisator taxation £41. That will not go very far. A much more difficult case is that of the Nelson T.C:-, which at-its meeting last month could get only £1900 through the totalisator. Their share of the concession is the munificent sum of £19. Many of the larger clubs are fairly sound financially,, although the Wellington Racing Club, with its very large outlay in overhead expenses, is an outstanding exception. The Winter Meeting of this club is to be held in July next, and, taking the last Winter Meeting figures for a guide, the club will benefit to the extent of £776 by the proposed: rebate. Going on the average of present totalisator turnovers in the North Island, this may be reduced by one-third. : ;-. BIG FIGURES. Next month's Auckland Winter Meeting will be the first big fixture to be run under the concession arrangement. Last ■ June the machine investments for the three days amounted to nearly £137,000, so if this sum is handled again (it will probably be reduced one-third) the club will receive £1370 refund. At the Auckland Cup Meeting last summer, the biggest fixture in •' New Zealand, the sum handled was over £282,000, and had the concession then • been in force the club would have retained £2820 in addition to its ordinary returns. > , The following table shows the refunds liable to be "made to clubs under the concession, (to come into force on Ist-April last):-. ■'■■ ' \ ____ Racing Clubs.-. & Avondale 397 Manawatu ....'. 197 Hawkes Bay. (2 meetings) .. 158Te Kuiti 107 Egmont 10-i South Canterbury 104 Nelson 100 Masterton. ..... 89 . Oamaru ..«•»..»..•«.••• S3 Keefton .............. 73:! Greymouth, .............». % .. 67-. Amberley ....;........ 60 -. Marlbbrough SI, Marton 41 : - Trotting Club?. : " .■'-.■-..•.. . - ..£■."■ •,".. Forbury Park ..... .......... 316 / Auckland ................... 161 Ashburton .......♦..»«♦..... 131 : '. Te Aroha ......»«..<..••«•«•• "89 Cambridge ..,...»,.,........ 88 Thames .................... 77 --'. Taranaki ; ................... 52 - Wanganui .................. 44 Cheviot ........;............. ; 40 Marlborough ............... 30-■ Nekon^:%./.;;yU.,..-r.V;,:. 19; , A grand total to date' Jof £2678. I So far as can be learned, the 1 per cent. \ tebateis to last for twelve months, after •which the Government intends to review the position. ; --'■■". J ';In tte case of the large clubs, who are, fairly financial, it is probable that instead ■ ' of taking but thfi rebate for its own funds •it willibe put back in the.form of stake money. . From the viewpoint or the totalisator tiatron,'the concession means nothing, for he will still have to pay 3s ;4%d for every £1 heSinvests. The Government apparently does not intend to let up on the betting' public, in these difficult times.