TOTALISATOR TRENDS

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 134, 8 June 1935, Page 23

TOTALISATOR TRENDS

RECOVERY COMES SLOWLY

TRUTH FROM THE FIGURES

Although the executives of racing and trotting clubs in the Dominion cannot yet by any means feel assured that they are back to times when increased turnovers may be anticipated as a probable result of their meetings, the general trend during the current season, though at times still fluctuating uncomfortably from side to side of the previous season's mean, has undoubtedly been towards improvement. Wnen the seasons complete figures are available at the end of next month it will most likely be found that the year's aggregate is better than last year's, but it will not be so much greater. From an analysis of the holiday periods this season it is even doubtful if the rate of increase will be so good as it was last year. On figures purely it would appear that the best holiday period this season has been the recent Birthday carnival, but it must not be overlooked that the weather thisiyear has been particularly good for near mid-winter, much better than last year or the year before. The Auckland total to date re- ' presents the only decline, but with the third day today on a Saturday. ' instead of a Wednesday, as the last two years, it is quite possible that the Auckland Meeting will _ also emerge .with an increase for the three days. Even with this, however, and giving due regard to the effect the weather has had, the result is not particularly inspiring, and certainly does not reveal any eagle-winged return to the days of Turf prosperity. The gross aggregates for the two ■ principal holiday periods this year were declines on last years figures, ' though this statement may be surprising to most. At Christmas and the New Year, when several meetings were affected by the weather, and Marton and Stratford had to abandon their second day till a later date, the retreat was more than half-way back to the figures of two years previously, when- racing was at its lowest ebb from the buffeting of the depression. At Easter, too, there was a -falling away from last year's aggregate, and although this was entirely due to the great success of the Walla Walla match racing at Addington the previous year the figures on the whole were nothing to arouse the enthusiasm of executives. THREE YEARS' COMPARISON. The following table takes the principal meetings of the three periods already referred to, and compares their turnovers of the present season with those of the previous two seasons. Two and three years ago, it may be noted, the turnovers were the lowest since pre-war days, being the apparent nadir of the depression so far as racing speculation is concerned. The table is:—

It is certainly gratifying to note that] the lowest point of the depression has apparently passed, but it is clearly proing to be a hard fight uphill again, and the days of prosperity, with something, like the old stakes again to be won, may not, and probably will not, return till, racing is relieved of many of its present burdens, such as high taxation and costly transport charges. The paramount handicap on the sport is-without question the increased taxation it has suffered in recent years. Racing as a sport must contribute to the coffers of the exchequer, and contribute well, for after all it is one of the people's luxuries; but there is no justification in marking the sport out as a wealthy uncle who should keep all his relatives in easy circumstances and go begging himself. It is a very false premiss that racing is wealthy in this country, for it is undoubtedly in much more difficult straits at present than most of the other sports. This is simply because many thousands of people have their whole means of living dependent on the accessories of racing, but this can be said of no other sports, which for the most part are purely pastimes and not sources of livelihood. There is always a point above which taxation defeats its own ends, and in racing that point was reached even before the additional 2J per cent, totalisator tax was placed on it nearly five years ago. The figures from the time the- Dominion settled down after the immediate post-war years till 1930, when the additional tax was imposed, were sufficient to show that, and a fortiori the present rate of taxation is much above the defeatist point. Racing certainly does not ask that it should not be taxed, or only lightly taxed, but it does seek that the Government should view its case with actuarial eyes and if, as would almost certainly be the result, it finds that the high i premium being charged at prdsent brings in a smaller gross return than < it.might, then that it should, simply in its own interest, ascertain the point of maximum benefit and reduce the taxation to that point.

. CHRISTMAS-NEW TEAK. 1932-33. 1933-3J. 1934-35. £. £ £ Aui-kland . .... 181,2011 108,504 186;893 MU'nnwatu .... ,52,135 52,140 49,510 Walpukurau .. IMii "5,419 4;422 Dunedln 21,108 21,410 25,237 T*ranaM .... 21,868 18.111 22;092 Westland , .... . 6,616.. 7,328 8,549 NMidham .... 9,ilG 11.112 11,464 Walkoualtl .... ll,t>19 11,41.! 15,145 ■\\IIlranim ...» 2,101 26,900 18,912 Jliirton* 7,270 12,407 15,783 Stratford* .... 10,788 16,000 14;376 Hawke's Bay .. 11,7S.J 17,121 1J,!ISO Gtejmouth .... 1,b .7 11,750 8,012 Oaraani « 7,792 8,88-1 8,203 SxiliUiland .... 21,r>7 21,040 20,082 Ashburton T. .. l r>-'Ji 15,282 17,^0.i Walrarnpa T. .. 2,872 3,873 3,358 „ (tore T ». . ll/ilt 1W&U J3jO6I AiJCkliind T 78,729 75,348 75,503 Wintan T 7,870 8.1SS 9.018 Westport T. .. 10,238 11,184 8,896 Wostland T. .. 3,642 3,598 2,350 Canterbury T. . 40,338 40,682 36,326 Totals ...... £581,090 £618,721 £505,041 •One day only. EASTER MEETINGS. ' 1933. 1934. 1935. £ £ ..£. " Walrarapa .... 19,133 23,138 24,613 . Fellding 27,003 30,921 29,761 ■Auckland ' .... 82,678 76,773 74,806 Waipukurau .. 6,295 6,736 4,677 Beaumont .... 2,623 5,074 7^741 Tuapeka 2,400 2,091 3,290 Klvertoa 31,924 39,500 45,948 Canterbury .... 43,887 53,396 53,115 Hawera T 10,801 14,626 17,345 Metrop. T 52,018 76,031* 54,045 Totals £278,762 £328,280 £315,347 ♦Special Walla Walla attraction. BIRTHDAY MEETINGS. 1933. 1934. 1935. £ £ £ OtaM ........ 12,896 15,813 17,914 Dunedln 36,673 40,018 42,789 Auckland* .... 80,387 80,598 78,048 Canterbury T. .. 31,793 21,855 31,898 . Totals , ; . £161,749 £164,282 £170,649 'Two days only. ' An inspection of the table should.be sufficient to satisfy "those doubtful of ■ the assertions that have already been made that, though many clubs are now recording increases, the trend back to • better days is as yet moving very slowly. The ascent is not a fraction so rapid as the descent was. SLOW RATE OF RECOVERY. Taking only the Christmas-New Year and the Birthday meetings for the last six seasons, the, following table well ■illustrates this fact:— ■ ■• Christmas. Birthday*. Season. £ £ 1929-30 1,199,940 281,240/ 1930-31 ..- 916,124 206,769 1931-32 ., '. 647,477 160,378 1932-33 .....:.. 581,090 161,749 1U33-34 618,721 164,282 1934-35 ..i 595,041 170,649 ♦Two davs onlv at Auckland Included.