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Hokitika Guardian, 17 July 1931, Page 4

Tm; raring and trotting bodies which are meeting in Wellington this week, have difficult problems to deal with. These take their rise from the period of depression abroad. The marked ■ drop in the totalisator turnover at Wellington affords some measure of the real difficulty in regard to finance. No doubt the Clubs’ position is eccentuated by the heavy taxation imposed, hut probably this is not the opportune time to ask for a decrease. Still, the draining effect of tire taxation is lessening the turnover percentiblv, and in the end the Treasury is not going to he any better off—worse in fact. This set of circumstances must in the end, enforce a revision of the taxation But the Clubs have to subsist in the meantime, yet in spite of the difficulties they are threatened with another difficulty. There is a serious proposal before Parliament to license bookmakers. This would 1 , be a further serious blow to club finance and would remit in further reducing stakes. Whether the prorose 1 will he pers’sted it seriously remains to be seen, but the proposal is another factor in the pmsent difficulties to be contended with. The snort as conducted and managed bv the representative organisations in charge, ba.s been brought to a verv excellent- standard, and Now Zealand may well be proud of the svstem created tr) such a fine end. Tn the interests of the maintenance of the snort at the same- high level, ■ it is hoped it will he possible to negotiate the present Period without serious dislocation, and that with the return'to former prosperity, the clubs in common with other institutions, will enjoy better times again.