WAR-TIME RACING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25275, 12 July 1943, Page 5

WAR-TIME RACING

SHARING THE BENEFITS In his presidential address at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Racing Conference on Friday, Mr H. R. Chalmers, in a comprehensive review of many topics connected with the control of the sport, referred to several aspects of the reduction of racing during the war. New Zealand was fortunate, he said, in being able to carry on, even with a 50 per cent, cut in racing days. There were many people who thought there should be no racing at all, but in times of stress some relaxation was necessary for everyone, and it was clear from the increased attendance at all race meetings that racing was a most popular form of entertainment. While it was confined to Saturdays and public holidays, racing was not, in his opinion, interfering with the war effort in any way and was giving many workers in war industries the relaxation that was needed. Racing also benefited the Consolidated Fund; in the year ended July 31 last the direct .taxation paid through racing clubs was £508,676. During the year, racing was restricted to Saturdays and public holidays, with a limit of 120 days. The same limit applied this year, but the allocation had been more difficult, because more courses were available. In such conditions as now ruled, however, there must be some centralisation, and he felt that it was best to allow a somewhat larger proportion of racing than usual to courses in the larger centres where better stakes could be given. In most cases where a club had temporarily lost its racing days the executive had endeavoured to see that the club's ordinary overhead expenses were provided, either by associating it with some other club for one day’s racing or by asking a larger club to look after it.