RACING CONFERENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19527, 9 July 1925, Page 6

RACING CONFERENCE.

OPENING PAY’S PROCEEDINGS. ADDRESS BY SIR CEO. CLIFFORD. QUESTION OF TAXATION. (Peb United Pkesb Association.) WELLINGTON, July 8. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Racing Conference opened to-day, hir George Clifford presiding. bjr George, in addressing the conference, said: “So little progress has been effected in the removal of' the penalising disabilities under which racing has recently labouied, that I am tempted to quote from my ■ lust report, and thus reiterate my plaint at w months back. We have over claimed that our racing clubs are worthy of all encouragement as beneficial to the physical and moral health of tho community, while their xwospority is essential to the financial and other advantages accruing to the dominion from their existence. Our mam 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 dubs, and therefore calls for most urgent relief. A very few instances of the absorption ot revenue by payments to the Government will suffice to emphasise the danger. They could bo multiplied indefinitely. ‘Tn the first instance, one dub paid .£3860 to the Government, although making a loss of £470 on its race meeting. Another dub paid £1360 in Government taxes, and made a loss of £450; and a further instance discloses the fact that although the dub made a loss of £641, the Government received £4952. and those are very far from being exceptional instances. “The taxation paid during the previous and current seasons is set forth in the following figures:—

liocni x.uitc» NEED FOR REDRESS EMPHASISED. “The statistics of this persecution cry aloud for redress, \md we may, with some confidence, look for it. It may b© recalled that until now our clubs have unmurmirringly borne a specially heavy taxation while the Empire’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, oases, will, before long, involve their collapse. Relief from the consequent strain should bo conceded, not only on the inequity of the apportionment of contribution, but on the impolicy of withdrawing from the people so valuable a.n open-air recreation. Alike to the wearied tiller of the countryside, and to the pent-up toiler of the countinghouse, the changing problems' of the turf bring harmless relaxation, PUBLICATION OP DIVIDENDS. “Wo may fairly expect that the muchneeded amendment of the Gaming Act will become law this session. We look for the removal of the wholly absurd prohibition of the publication of dividends. Why should the public bo shut off from nows which law-breakers circulate froel.y among .themselves, and to their confederates? Wo ties ire permission to lemit investments to clubs on race days. Telegraph facilities are given to law-breakers, and utilised by them. Why not to the law-abiding citizens? INCREASED RACING DAYS. “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, ntul 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 bo disregarded as open floutorg of the law. the other as too prejudiced to understand the merits of our institution. I have always been convinced that the man, however wellintentioned. 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 he has thus'frightened his auditors. No other industry or pursuit suffers so severely from taxation, and if we are to be singled out we may well set forth the following reductions wo consider just;— Totalisator tax, Zi nor cent, to li per cent (as formerly); dividend tax, 5 per cent, to 2Jr per cent, (as formerly); stakes tax, 5 per cent, to the original 1 per cent. Amusements tax to be repealed, as gate moneys are already taxed at rate of 2i per cent, under the receipts tax, and a doublo tax of this nature is unfair. As to the stakes tax, it was a voluntary contribution to the war funds. Previously it was agreed that an all-round tax of 1 per cent, on stake* 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 its basis. IMMEDIATE RELIEF DESIRED.

“The repeated promise of the late Prime Minister to review the incidence of taxation on the sport of racing emboldens ua to press for immediate relief. The continuance of oppression under which the sport is obviously staggering has survived the Gaming Bill of last session. The fate of our proposals for the improvement of the sport 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 flo.uters of the law were loft unfettered in their operations. A short Act, rectifying those omissions, would bo acceptable to all true sportsmen, and would remove restrictions at once irritating and pernicious. This conference has evolved from the confusion which prevailed in the racing world 40 years ago a system, which has harmonised racing in the somewhat awkwardly severed districts of the dominion. It has continuously striven, and with acknowledfrod success, to perfect that system, until the eport is enjoyed under conditions not 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 bo of varied and sometimes negligible experience, and obviously of far less competence for any such duties than the elected representatives of the racing clubs of Now Zealand, who assemble from all quarters o£ the dominion with the united aim of maintaining the highest standard upon the t/urf. Tiro constitution ot the conference is such as to preclude the disastrous intrusion of time-servers for private or party purposes into its working. It would be a calamity if the government of racing were thus practically taken out of the hands of selected men of repute, who give their time and gratuitous services for love of the national sport. Even where the right of intervening is acquired by a Minister under an Act of Parliament, he would bo well advised to ascertain the views of tho officials of the conference before venturing upon thin ice of which they probably know’ tho strength far bettor than his advisers. “Tho Gaming Amendment Act of 1924 provided :

1. An increase of the days of racing by 12. 2. A fixed minimum weight to bo carried in flat races of 7st. 5. 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 Parliament to the Gaming Bill for a number of sessions of Parliament. The-, consequent risk of lifo and iimb in overcrowded fields coiild not. therefore be deemed the fault of the governing- body of the turf. 4. Power to clubs to change their constitutions. This section of tho Act was strenuously opposed by tho conference, but, in spite of ife protests to Parliament, and to others interested, no help was forthcoming to resist such a disturbing measure. 5. Refund to totalisator investments on a horse which is withdrawn from' a race before the machine is closed for tho race. "Turning to the practical business of tho year, wo have to acknowledge with thanks the services of Messrs \V. ii. Bidwell, A*

T, Donnelly, John Grigg, G. N M'Lean, O. P. Skerrett, K.C., and 0. S. Watkins., as judges of our Appeal Court. “Complaints hare boon rife as to rough riding in races, and "apparently a stricter supervision is needed. I would suggest that increased power be 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 groat majority of our trainers and jockeys 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 of criminal attendants is more and more manifest, and the exclusion of recognised evildoers has proved advantageous in many directions originally unforeseen. “The accident fund has been called upon to meet an unusual drain. Its benefits have been very clearly shown, both to injured jockeys and trainers, and to the surviving dependants of 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 owners of thoroughbred mares of the advantages accruing to them by sending records of their studs, and the annual foalinga thereat, to the compiler of the Stud 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 bo owners who so disregard an honourable obligation so imposed, it is well that they should recognise that such action involves disqualification. “J may congratulate clubs upon the improvement shown everywhere in the provision of ambulance arrangements. “The marked success which has attended New Zealand-bred horses of late on the Australian turf has been very gratifjlug. It shows how valuable an industry tuo breeding of thoroughbred stock is to the dominion, and how worthy it is of. every encouragement. Now Zealand, witli its favourable climate, should be the nurseij for many countries of the best typo ot purebred horses, cattle, and sheep. Mr A. A. M'Kellar, of Christchurch, was reappointed auditor. J. A. C. Fleming, L. Boles, A. Grant, and .T. Richardson applied for the remission of their various terms of suspension.—-It was decided to refer the applications to tho various appeal judges interested. An application from the Morrinsvillc Racing Club (in liquidation) for the recommendation of a tote permit was received. The club lost £3OOO, which loss had fallen on 12 guarantors. It was suggested that part of the profits on the race meeting should go to guarantors.—The conference declined the request, as it would create a had precedent. The Oamaru Racing Club and the Waimate District Hunt Club wore granted permission to increase the number of trotting events on their programmes. The President reported that the president of the Trotting Conference had asked him to bring forward the matter of increased number of trotting races on racing programmes.— There was no recommendation, and tho matter lapsed.

: REPORT BY STIPENDIARY STEWARD. The Chief Stipendiary Steward had reported that the control of jockeys’ rooms was now very efficient, but the matter of birdcages was not so good. Some definite rule should be embodied in the rules of racing debarring vicious or unruly horses from entry. Better provision should be made on all courses for the attention to injured horses. The scales in use generally were not satisfactory. The clubs were still careless about the compilation of race cards. There was great improvement In the punctuality of race meetings. Most clubs had done their best to improve their appointments, but in some eases tracks had been neglected. The use of a standard hnrdle for hurdle races should lie made compulsory. Feet on hurdles should be absolutely prohibited. , During the season the totalisator returns had shown a considerable increase on the last season, notwithstanding that tho bookmaker was still operating in every town in the dominion, and if rumour was anything like correct his patrons included many owners. The standard of racing remained high. The adoption of standard colours was necessary. . , ~ . On Mr Hazlett’s motion it was decided that ail the clubs lie written to and given a description of a standard hurdle. THE MINISTER AND PERMITS.

The Dates Committee, in its report, protested against the action of tho Minister of Internal Affairs in not agreeing to the committee's recommendations for the allocation of 12 extra days, also against the action of the Minister in over-riding the recommendation that the two dates vacated to the Bake County Jockey Club be allotted to Riverton, instead of which the Minister lent one day to Riverton and the other to the Wellington Club. After jnterveiwing the Minister the committee had agreed to his allocations on the understanding that in future the views of the Racing Conference would be ascertained, and in the event of any difference arising the Minister would consult with the conference for a solution of the difficulty. Mr Bidwill stated that the Minister, with the Prime Minister, met the Dates Committee yesterday, when it was acknowledged that the Racing Conference had not the right to allot permits, but hitherto its recommendations had generally been approved. _ The Hon. Mr Bollard, however, thought he had a mandate to allot permits, and had done so. The Minister said he wished to assist the conference in every way, and Mr Bidwell said ho believed there were no dark clouds ahead. The conference with the Minister had resulted in burying the hatchet. ALTERATION IN DATES. The Dates Committee reported as follows: —Otaki Maori Club, September 10 and 21, instead of 25 and 2G; Nelson J.C.. March 5 and (1; Wellington R.C., April 15 and 17, instead of March 25 and 27; Manawatu R.C., April 21 and 22, instead ot March 23 ami 24; Wellington R.C., July S and 10. instead of July 6,8, and 10. The April dates for Wellington were referred back, but otherwise tho report was adopted. BOCAL MATTERS DEALT WITH. METROPOLITAN STATUS FOR SOUTHLAND. (Fbom Otm Special Reportbul WELLINGTON, July 8. At the Racing Conference to-day the president, Sir George Clifford, was in the chair, and occupied the position with all his well-known vigour and tactful personality. He seems to be again in quite robust health, and indications point to him being well able to carry on with the fall and whole-hearted support, of the members of the conference. At the conference, the, Southland Racing Club became a metropolitan club, and this should both strengthen and facilitate .the control of the sport in the south. Permission was granted to the O'amarn Jockey Club to include two trotting permits on each programme for next meeting and a similar concession was granted to tho Waimate Hunt Club. It was, however, a matter of comment that the inclusion of trotting events on racing and hunt programmes would be a matter of serious consideration in the future. One reason was the increased number of trotting permits which had recently been granted. It was generally agreed that pinning hurdles with triangular supports was objectionable, ami hurdles should be supported with stakes in preference. An amicable understanding between the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Racing Conference has been reached, and in future the Government representative and those controlling the sport will work more in harmony.

It has bean raining here all day, and the going at "Trentham will continue to he bad, and so favour horses good in the mud rather than those whose form suggests a chance based when running on a dry track.

Totalisator Tax (2} per 1923-24. £ b. d. 1024-25 £ s. d. eeSt.! 145,884 5 8 151,774 18 Dividend Tax (5 per . , oentA ... ••• ••• 261,748 5 7 272,393 12 Stakes Tax (10 per cent,), reduced to 5 per cent, from . . March 31st. 1924 38,250 18 0 21,688 6 Eeceipts Tux 21 (per „ , 4.032 7 4 4, ns 6 1 Amusement Tax 16,839 19 i 14,787 15 11 Land Tax 2,196 145 2,817 19 * Total ... _ ... £468,952 10 1 £•168,088 15 2 I/Ksnl Bates £6,726 8 9 £7,024 8 5