THE SEASON’S RACING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 8 July 1925, Page 9

THE SEASON’S RACING.

SIR GEORGE. CLIFFORD'S REVIEW. CLUBS BURDENED BY TAXATION. (Special to Star). WELLINGTON, July 8. A strong protest against weight of taxation under which New Zealand racing clubs tire struggling wa s made by Sir George Clifford, president of the Racing Conference, at this morning's session of the annual gathering. In presenting big report on tne past season’s activities, Sir George said, inter alia: — It is sadly inevitable that in reviewing the events of the past year my first word must be an expression of our sense of los s that Mr. Massey will no longer be with us. He iiad gainej our affection as a man. and our admiration as, at heart, a genuine sportsman. His successful career was a blameless one, ami lie will live on for long years as an example to all Imperial statesmen. The Hard task of following so great a Prime Minister has devolved upon a member of our conference, whom it is fitting that we should congratulate with full confidence that lie will right worthily sustain tho best traditions of the high office he is called upon to assume. We have lost during the year the Hon. Oliver Samuel, who, since the early days of the conference, has been our colleague and untiring assistant and adviser in shaping the Rules 01 Racing. PENALISING DIS ABILITIES. ’ !

So little progress lias been aiiectod in the removal of the penalising disabilities under whi>h racing has recently laboured that L am tempted to quote from my last report, and thus reiterate my plaint of twelve months back. V e have ever claimed our racing clubs are worthy of all encouragement as beneficial to the physical and moral health of the community, while their prosperity is essential to the financial and other advantages accruing lo the Dominion from their existence. Our main task at this year -s meeting is to plead earnestly for a just reduction of the burdens recently imposed upon us. it is a matter of life or death to most of our clubs, and therefore calls for most urgent relief. A very few instances of the absorption of revenue by payment to the Government will suffice to emphasise the danger. They could be multiplied indefinitely. In the first instance one club paid" £8.860 to the Government, although making a loss of £470 on its race meeting. Another club paid £1.360 in Government taxes, and made a Joss of £430; and a further instance discloses the fact that although the club made a loss of £641, the Government received £4,9.52. and these are very far from being exceptional instances. The taxation paid during the previous and current seasons is set forth fn the following figures (shillings and

The statistics of this persecution cry aloud for redress, and we may, with some confidence, look for it. it may be recalled that until now our clubs have unmurmuringly bore a specially heavy taxation while the Umpire's needs might seem to require it; they subscribed generously from their funds at the outset of the great war. and in the result they find themselves now with purses depleted, faced with impositions which, in most cases, will, before long, involve their coliapse. Relief from the consequent strain should be conceded, not only on the inequity of the appointment of contribution, but on the impolicy of withdrawing from the people so valuable an open-air recreation. Alike to the wearied tiller of the countryside, and to the pent-up toiler of the counting-house, the chang-

ing problems of the turf bring harmless relaxation. We may fairly expect that the much-needed amendment of the Gaming Act will become law this se'ssion. We look for the removal of the wholly absurd prohibition of the publication of dividends. Whv should the

public be shut off from news which law,-breakers circulate i/reetv among themselves, and their confederates. We desire permission to remit investments to clubs on race days. Telegraph facilities are given to law-breakers, and utilised by them. Why not be lawabiding citizens. We petition for such an increase in the days of racing as will satisfy the reasonable requests of certain clubs, and will meet the requirements of increasing population and the development of hitherto backward districts. Our proposals carry their own justification. Murmurs of disapproval arise only from two quarters incongruously allied. One wing of the opposition should be disregarded as open floaters of the law, the other as too prejudiced to understand the

merits of our institution. 1 have always been convinced that iTie man, however well-intentioned, who strives to persuade his neighbour that an innocent act is a sin is himself responsible. and gravely responsible, for the commission of any imaginary sins into which lie has thus frightened his auditors. MJRD-ENS OF TAXATION. No other industry or pursuit sailers so severely from taxation, and if we are to be singled out we may well set forth tlie following reductions we consider just: Totalisator tax. 2.1 per cent, to 1A per cent. ; dividend tax, 5 per cent, to 2j per cent. —both taxes as formerly. Stakes tax, a per cent.- to the original 1 per cent. Amusement tax to he repealed, as gate moneys are already taxed at the rate of 2i per cent, under the receipts tax, and a double tax of this nature is unfair. As to the* stakes tax, it wa s a voluntary contribution under the war funds. Previously it was agreed that an allround tax of 1 per cent, on stakes would be more profitable to the Government than an assessment which, in most instances, would altogether fail to

show a taxable balance. Further, a considered agreement of this nature should be honourably adhered to unless altered circumstances entirely alter jts basis. The repeated proiffise of the late Prime Minister to review the incidence of taxation on the sport of racing emboldens us to press for immediate relief. The continuance of oppression under which the sport is obviously. staggering has survived the

Gaming Pill of last session. r llie fate of our proposals for the improvement of the snort demonstrated how adverse influences countered them, and how the law-breakers throughout gained their points. The opportunity of proposing amendments embodying our views was denied to us. and the habitual fkmters of the law were left unfettered in their oncrations. A short Act. rectifying these omissions, would he acceptable to all true snortsmen. and would remove restrictions at once irritating and pernicious. This conference has evolved from the confusion which prevailed in the racing world forty years ago a svs tern which has harmonised racing in the somewhat awkwardly severed districts of the Dominion. It has continuously striven, and with acknowledged success, to perfect that system, until the sport is enjoyed under conditions n6t surpassed anywhere for the protection of its followers from abuses and dishonesty. We may therefore regard with apprehension any attempt to substitute in the internal administration of the turf an autocratic control by a political officer. Such an official would necessarily be of varied and sometimes negligible experience, and obviously of far less competence for :uiv such duties than the elected representatives of the racing clubs of New Zealand, who assemble from all quarters of the Dominion with the united aim of maintaining the highest standard upon the turf. The constitution of the conference i s such as to preclude the disastrous intrusion of timeservers for private of party purposes into its working. It would be a calamity if the government of racing were thus practically taken out of its hands of selected men of repute.' who give their time and gratuitous services for love of the national sport. Even where the right of interevening is acquired bv a Minister under an Act of Parliament. he would he well advised to ascertain the views of the officials of tbe conference before venturing upon thin ice of which they probably know flie strength far better than his advisers.

The Gaming Amendment Dill of 1924 provi led :- 1. An increase of the days of racing by twelve. 2. A fixed minimum weight to he carried in flat races of 7st. ;; Power to run races in two divisions. The conference desired this authority for years, but did not get it, owing to the opposition of certain Members of Purlin-, meet to the Gaming Piil for a number of sessions of Parliament. The consequent risk to life and limb in overerawdetl lield s could not therefore he deemed the fault •of the governing body of the turf. 4. Power to clubs to change their constitutions. This section of the Act was •strenuously opposed by tlie conference, but, in spit e of its protests to Parliament, and to others interested, no help was forthcoming to resist such a disturbing measure. 5. Refund of totalisator investments on a horse which is withdrawn from a race before the machine is closed for the race.

SUPERVISION OF RIDING. Complaints have been rite as to rough riding ill races, and apparently a stricter supervision i s needed. I would suggest that increased power he given to the stipendiary stewards in this direction. Watching riders from meeting to meeting they are far more able to cope with this matter than the judicial or other stewards who cannot note the habitual tactics of offenders in this particular. The conference will. I trust, approve of the effort of the Licensing Committee to support the ambition of the great majority of our trainers and jockey s to keep the tone of their professions at the highest possible level, especially by eliminating those whose insobriety or misconduct tends to lower it. The invaluable effect of the restraint imposed by the presence of our racecourse inspectors upon the old time crowd oi criminal attendants is more a*nd more manifest, and the exclusion of recognised evildoers has proved advantageous in many directions originally unforseen.

The Accident. Fund has been called upon to meet an unusual drain. Its beneffts have been very clearly shown, both to injured jockeys and trainers, and to the surviving dependants ol those who met with fatal injuries. Owners who are the providers of the fund have had cause to realise its advantages alike to themselves and to participants in compensation payments. It is still necessary to remind owner s of thoroughbred mare s of the advantages accruing to them by sending; records of their studs,, and the annual foaling* thereat, to the compiler of the Stiul Book promptly.

Rumour —not always a “lying jade” —avers that there are exceptional cases of owners who disregard the condition on which their entries are accepted under Rule 13 of Part XV.. of the Rules of Racing. If there be owners who so disregard an honourable obligation so imposed, it is wel] that they should recognise tliAt such action involves disqualification. The marked success which has attended New Zealand-b'rec! horses of late on the Australian turf lias been very gratifying. Jt .shows how valuable an industry the breeding of thoroughbred stock i s to the Dominion, and how worthy it is of every encouragement. New Zealand, with its favourable climate, should be the nursery for many countries of the best type oi ' purebred horses, cattle, and sheep.

pence omitted): Totalisator Tax 1923-24 £ 1924-25 £ (2* per cent.) ... Divident Tax ... 145,884 151)774 (5 per cent.) ... State s Tax (10 per reduced to 5 per ... 261,748 cent.), cent. 272,393 from March 31, 1924. 38,250 Receipts Tax 21.683 (2J per cent.) ... ... 4,032 4.626 Amusement Tax ... ... 16,839 14,787 Land Tax ... 2,196 2,817 Total . 468,952 468,088 Local Rates ... £6,726 £7,024