ARC Replies To Commission

Northern Advocate, 10 January 1948, Page 4

ARC Replies To Commission

AUCKLAND. Sat. (Sp.L—Comments by the president of the Auckland Racing Club (Dr A. McGregor Grant) on the Gaming Commission report are:— "We thoroughly agree with the findings on bookmakers and with the suggestions about off-course betting, which we consider could be made quite practicable with the cooperation of the Government.

“The formation of an advisory board we do not think is necessary, for it would practically usurp all the powers and functions of the Racing Conference and the individual clubs. Should this board come into being, one can foresee a gradual trend toward state control of racing. BUILDING IMPOSSIBLE "The Auckland Racing Club has been singled out for drastic criticism indicating extravagance on its part. This, we think, is quite unfair comment. "On the figures supplied by the commission in its report, the Auckland Racing Club paid for the season 1945-46 in income tax 25 per cent of the total amount of income tax paid by all racing clubs in New Zealand and 22 per cent of the total amount of income tax paid by racing and trotting clubs in New Zealand. “Our cash investments increased from £18.500 in 1937 to £218,000 in 1946.

“This amount has been built up during a time when it has been impossible to make any major improvements at Ellerslie. "Plans were drawn and some time ago submitted to the control authorities, but it was not possible to obtain permission to build.”