Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27th., 1928. RACING OUTLOOK

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 December 1928, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27th., 1928. RACING OUTLOOK

*T*HE Christmas and New Year holidays would lack much of their appeal to New Zealanders were it not for the attractive programmes arranged by the various racing and trotting clubs. On the West Coast, during the next week or so, the sporting fraternity will find their wants amply catered for. The Greymouth Jockey Club and the Greymouth Trotting Club’s meetings should be very successful, given fine weather. The efforts of the officials deserve practical encouragement, and it is to be hoped that the forthcoming gatherings will be among the brightest in local annals.

At present, executives of racing clubs have a difficult task to maintain the desired high standards, mainly owing to financial reverses. Expenditure is inevitably high and income is not always as certain. Government taxation adds to the handicaps, and not all the money invested by punters goes through the totalisators. Perhaps, the new Government will listen more readily than did its predecessor to appeals from racing and trotting clubs for some relief from the present burden. It is not just that the Government should grasp the largest “dividend” for doing nothing, whilst the Clubs that take the financial risks, supply the entertainment to the public, and through their officials, carry out hard work, get little or nothing. Reports from Boxing Day meetings tell of decreased attendances and lessened “tote” returns. Adverse weather was partly responsible, but the fact remains that there is cause for misgiving among those responsible for the management of the Clubs. Losses cannot be continuously incurred without something drastic happening.

New Zealand is not alone in witnessing what may be termed a slump in racing. The Homeland is experiencing similar trouble, and in this connection a report of an Irish Free State official committee is interesting reading. It show’s that Irish racing, the “national industry” is in a bad way. It appears that all the racecourse companies are in a precarious financial condition, and that in 1927 not one of these earned enough to pay a dividend, and that in point of fact all but two made an actual loss. A number of causes are advanced for this decline. Economic depression is the most obvious and the most potent ; it is also suggested that the charges are too high and that there are 100 many meetings. The main reason for this decline is attributed fo a change in the habits of the younger generation, who prefer the more personal enjoyment of athletics. dancing, motoring and the cinema.

Il will be, however, cold comfort to .New Zealand Clubs, especially the smaller ones in country districts, to learn of Irish and other troubles. Something must be done to effect an improvement in the Dominion, if the old order of things is to be restored. Some of the reasons given for the falling-off in Ireland, may be applicable to New Zealand, but be this as it may, it is clear

that the Clubs must attract greater support, be given financial relief by the Government, and lessen expenditure generally, if prosperity is to be restored.