Excessive Racing Taxation

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 175, 27 July 1935, Page 7

Excessive Racing Taxation

FEILDING JOCKEY CLUB ANNUAL MEETING The 56tk annual meeting of the Fcilding Jockey Club was held last evening, Mr L. T. McLean (retiring president) presiding, over a fair attendance of members. “The year’s operations could bo considered very satisfactory,” said the chairman in moving the adoption oL' the annual report and balance-sheet. Jie proceeded to compare the figures in tho balance-sheet with those l’or the previous year and in connection with the tote turnover remarked that the fall appeared to be due to lack of spending power among the public, as the attendances for the four meetings of the club ’a year were considerably up. Dealing with taxation, Mr McLean said that for the Easter meeting in 1021 the taxation totalled £4633 on a turnover of £06,000, while for the Easter meeting in 1035, the taxation was £2401 on a turnover of £20,761. As illustrating the curtailment in spending power of the public Mr McLean said that an attendance of 4408 on Easter Tuesday, 1021, put through £45,016, whereas an attendance of 456-1 on Easter Monday, 1035, only put through £14,680. Dealing with attendances, lie said that the attendance on Easter Monday, 1020, wu's over 7200, while •for the same day in 1935 the attendance was 4364. Touching upon tho liberality of the club in tho matter of complimentary tickets, the president said that this'did not have any detrimental effect on the gate takings, which had shown a gradual' increase, in 1033 the takings were £I3SB; 1934, £1565; and 1935, £IGSU. Government taxes over the past three years had been as follows: 1933, £4020 12s 7d; 1035, £4632 13s 9d; 1935, £4543 0s 4d. “Lt can safely be said/' he concluded,

"that the club has not slipped bade financially during the last four years, and this reflects credit on the management of its affairs.” Seconding the motion, Mr J. Graham considered that the club should again record an emphatic protest against the manner in which racing elubs were taxed. The figures quoted by the president were eloquent testimony of the manner in which racing was called upon to pay tribute to the Government.' The Racing Conference had taken the matter up, but had met with little or no success, yet the speaker was satisfied that the time had arrived when a strong protest must be registered. He considered that the situation was becoming' desperate, and many smaller clubs were going out simply because of their in ability to carry on under the burden of taxation. The Government had quite ignored the effects of taxation, and in his opinion had quite overlooked the law of diminishing returns and that law, ho opined, was now operating. Racing clubs to-day were simply in the position of tax collectors for the State. Racing L would go out altogether if nothing were done to check the taxation and he felt that the time was opportune to again eater a most emphatic protest. (Applause.) Mr E. A. Twigg averred, that the club should press, at least for a removal of the stakes tax.

The president thanked Mr Graham for his remarks and said that his object in quoting comparative figures was to show just what the Feilding Jockey Club was paying out in the way of taxation. It, was only because cf the fact that the club was in a

strong financial position that it was able to carry on.

The report and balance-sheet were adopted without further discussion.

Mr McLean, in retiring from the chair, offered his congratulations to Mr Fry whom ho declared elected to the presidency unopposed. On taking the chair Mr W. G. Fry ■thanked members for the honour done him in electing him to tho presidency. He hoped to justify the confidence reposed in him, but with tho backing of a strong committee he felt that his ■work would be made easier. Mr Graham then moved the follow'ing resolution:— "That ths Feilding Jockey Club regrets that notwithstanding repeated representations by the racing clubs of New Zealand, supported by tho Mew Zealand Racing Conference, and notwithstanding the slough of despond to which racing in New Zealand lias descended, and notwithstanding the fact that by reason of the existing taxation racing clubs have been forced ■out of existence and tho finances of existing clubs reduced to a deplorable state, no reasonable rediiction in taxation has been granted, and this club .therefore urges upon the Government the necessity for some substantial and immediate relief.” The motion was seconded by Mr L. ■T. McLean, who endorsed the remarks of the mover.

Mr B. N. Sandilands said that he ■was satisfied that while the Government insisted upon the existing taxation elubs would continue to struggle. The evidence of the effect of the taxa-