RACING CONFERENCE.

Southland Times, Issue 19293, 11 July 1924, Page 3

RACING CONFERENCE.

OPENING SESSIONS. THE TAXATION PROBLEM. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 10. The New Zealand Racing Conference opened to-day, Sir George Clifford presiding, and 39 clubs being represented. THE SEASON REVIEWED. TAXATION TOO HEAVY. Sir George Clifford, in opening proceedings, said: — “The racing season now closing will be memorable for the remarkable series of successes in Australia of horses bred or owned in New Zealand, a clear tribute to the climatic advantages ensuring to these islands predominance in an industry destined to increasing importance. A promising trade, already so well advertised, should be fostered. Strangely enough, we find its very foundation threatened by a load of taxation it is obviously unable to support. We have ever claimed that our Racing Clubs are worthy of all encouragement as beneficial to the physical and moral health of the community, while their prosperity is essential to the financial and other advantages accruing to the Dominion from their existence. Our main 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 Clubs, and therefore calls for most urgent relief. A very few instances of the absorption of revenue by payments to the Government will suffice to emphasise the danger. They could be multiplied indefinitely. “In the first instance one Club paid £3,860 to the Government, although making a loss of £470 on its race meeting. Another Club paid £1,360 in Government taxes, and made a loss of £450; and a further instance discloses the fact that although the Club made a loss of £641, -the Government received £4,952, and these are very far from being exceptional instances. “The taxation paid during the season is set forth in the following figures:— £. Totalisator tax (2| per cent) 140,629 11 11 Dividend tax (5 per cent) .. .. 251,971 14 1 Stakes tax (10 per cent), reduced to 5 per cent from

Local rates • • •- 6,677 6 8 “The statistics of this persecution cry aloud for redress, and we may, with some confidence, look for it. It may be recalled that until now our clubs have unmurmuringly 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 w’hich, in most cases, will, before long involve their collapse. Relief from the consequent strain should be conceded not only on the inequity of the apportionment of contribution, but on the impolicy of withdrawing from the people so valuable an 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. THE GAMING LAW. We 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 be shut off from news which law-breakers circulate freely among themselves, and to their confederates? “We desire permission to remit investments to Clubs on race days. Telegraph facilities are given to law-breakers, and utilised by them. “Why not to law-abiding citizens? “We ask for the right to run races in divisions where runners would exceed a safe number. “Refusal of this provision will endanger lives, and on whom will the responsibility then fall? “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, and tiie development of hitherto backward districts. “Our proposals carry their own justification. Murmurs of disaproval arise only from two quarters incongruously allied. One wing of the opposition should be disregarded as open flouters of the law, the other as too prejudiced to understand the merits of our institution. I have always been convinced that the man, however well-intentioned, 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. RACECOURSE INSPECTORS. The work of the Stipendiary Stewards, good as it is, would have been still more beneficial had sufficient power been given to them to secure uniformity in dealing with many phases of racecourse management. An extension of their authority is greatly to be desired. The action of the Racecourse Inspectors has been of incalculable assistance in. the maintenance of order both on our courses and in towns during race time. Those birds of ill omen who used to swoop down wherever crowds assemble no longer pollute our enclosures, and have to seek other hunting grounds for their prey. Naturally some of the friends of the excluded cry out against the present wholesome regulations, but wherever good reason is honestly shown in a particular case, provision is made for

removal of the personal restriction. It is obvious that applications for such exemption from penalties must be carefully weighed before being entertained. Apart from the clearance of courses, the Inspectors have been of considerable help to officials of Clubs, and to the Executive of this Conference, and, it may be added, generally to the guardians of order.

“The Trustees of the Accident Fund have been faced with rather heavier claims than usual. These may be somewhat accounted for by the imperfect schooling of horses over fences, and by the adoption of a short stirrup in jumping races. The power of the Stipendiary Stewards to regulate the length of the stirrup leather in such races may well be rigorously exercised. In view of the credit balance in their Trust Account the Trustees do not regard it as advisable to alter the fees payable by owners in a season when conditions are otherwise so adverse to them. They desire, however, to remind all concerned that the fee, though ensuring relief to the injured jockey, is in the first place an insurance of the individual owner against his legal liability. “The Licensing Committee has abundant evidence that its supervision has tended to the welfare of the trainers and jockeys, and that the more uniform operation of the necessary regulations has been welcomed by the great majority of them. Their desire is as strong as ours to keep the tone of their professions at the highest possible level. RAILWAYS AND RACEHORSES. “I cannot conclude without a reproach to the Railway management, for what appears to me its short-sighted policy in regard to the transport of racehorses. In many cases the cost is absolutely prohibitive to the horse owner, and the retention of a horse in his home stable is usually the sacrifice of many fares. The least the Department can do is to satisfy us and protect their own returns is to give the former concession of a single fare for the double journey. “Another subject which I commend to the attention of the authorities is the avoidance of hardship to Clubs by the interpolation of emergency race meetings without consultation with the Committees of Ciubs whose dates may thus be interfered with. Where an executive has laid plans for the success of its annual function it may well feel ruffled if a year’s preparation is thus suddenly frustrated. I would suggest that where such interference is contemplated, reference should be made to the Clubs possibly interested, and to the Dates Committee of the Conference, when any unavoidable dislocation might be mutually arranged without the heart-burning otherwise inevitable.” GENERAL MATTERS. • STIPENDIARY STEWARDS’ REPORT The report of the stipendiary stewards stated that the mangement and control of race meeting during the past season continued to show decided improvement. In many respects, efficient control of the jockeys’ room was, however, still lax. The evil of Clubs continuing to accept the entry of unruly, vicious, or imperfectly broken horses still demanded special attention. Some decided action should be taken toobviate this evil, and thereby protect riders and well-mannered horses from serious injury at the starting post. The Committee suggested that a new rule of racing be adopted to provide that, in the cases of a vicious or dangerously unruly horse, a stipendiary steward shall report such horse to the Judicial Committee for inquiry, and, on its recommendation, the District Committee may decide to place the unruly horse on the list debarring such horse from entry for such period as it may consider necessary', and the horse placed in such list may be permitted to run out its engagement, if any. The financial condition of some clubs was far from satisfactory, and unless relief from taxation was obtained in the near future, they would be unable to carry on. WEST COAST DATES. Hie Dates Committee submitted a report fixing days of racing for the coming year, and drawing the attention of the Marlborough, Westport, Reefton, Kumara and Greymouth Clubs to the advisability of establishing a circuit of dates for the autumn meetings of those clubs, and suggested that next year delegates from such clubs wait on the Committee with a view of arriving at a more satisfactory arrangement than exists at present.

REDUCTION IN TAXATION URGED. Mr C. P. Skerrett moved: “That it be a representation to the Prime Minister that the load of taxation, direct and indirect, upon racing clubs is such as to imperil the continued existence of the sport of racing in all its branches, and that he be urged to give such relief as is possible to the whole racing organisation in New Zealand, without any distinction between the clubs which now bear proportionately the burden which was placed on them primarily for war purposes, and from which they are entitled to relief in view of the understanding under which they acquiesced in its imposition.” Mr Skerrett said a serious problem had now arisen for the clubs bearing the heavy burden of taxation. It was a source of anxiety to make ends meet. There was an undoubted understanding that the increased taxation would be revised, but that revision only resulted in a slight reduction of the owners’ tax. Mr J. Grigg seconded the motion, which was carried. MINIMUM WEIGHT. “We have found that the fields at these races are always small and that there have been a small number of jockeys engaged,” said Mr G. Gould (Canterbury), in moving that the weight for prescribed steeples, hurdle races or flat races at totalisator meetings at welter weights should be 9 stone minimum. There was, he said, strong reason to believe that these races had not been ridden fairly. The motion was carried. OTHER MATTERS. An Auckland remit was carried, viz., that all winnings shall be paid over and delivered respectively within fourteen days after the conclusion of a meeting unless an inquiry affecting them shall be pending. A proposal emanating from the Manawatu Club to the effect that District Committees should elect its own Chairman was lost. It was resolved that no certificate of registration should be granted or issued to any Chib, the course of which is situated within 20 miles of any registered Club, Hunt, Polo or Sports Club excepted. The following remit was carried: That, subject to specific penalties by these rules provided, in case of certain specific offences, stewards punish at this discretion any trainer, jockey or other person subject to their control, guilty of any misconduct or breach of duty, by a fine not exceeding 50 sovereigns or by suspension from active training or riding. The President moved, at the request of the Licensing Committee, that if the handicapper cannot be present at the race meeting for which he is appointed handicapper, the stewards or Committee shall appoint a deputy or assistant handicapper. No licensed trainer shall be appointed handicapper nor shall any paid official of a club other than the duly appointed handicapper frame the handicaps for such club. The motion was carried. A motion by Auckland that six persons should be elected annually to constitute a Stipendiary Stewards’ Conference Committee and that in all matters in which powers of discretion were vested in the President, he might confer with the Committee before taking any action was carried. A Dunedin remit: That in no case should a levy be paid by any club, less than three guineas for each day’s racing was carried. The President’s motion that the three remits dealing with the amount of stakes should be held over till next Conference was carried.

The Conference decided against a motion that no tote be granted any course where a false rail is placed on the inside of the track. The expiry of a joint interest must be notified in the official calendar. Various amendments in connection with making application for trainers and jockeys’ apprentices’ licenses were agreed to. A motion to limit the body deadweight carried by jockeys to 71b was lost. A motion to give district councillors power to deal with appeals from disqualifications was carried, the rules as to procedure to remain unaltered. The regulations regarding changes of ownership were amended, as were the regulations dealing with the administration of district trust funds. It was decided to ask the Minister to assist the clubs in copyrighting racecards to prevent piracy. Sir George Clifford was re-elected president. COUNTRY RACING CLUBS. CONFERENCE AT WELLINGTON. At the annual conference of the New' Zealand country racing clubs held at Wellington this week a resume of the year’s operations given showed the financial position to be satisfactory. The President, Mr W. Jewell, of Faxton, referred to the deputation to the Prime Minister, and said he hoped they would get relief from the taxation. Many clubs were showing a loss and relief was urgently required. The valuable assistance of Mr Albert Bruce, Thames, was referred to and it was decided to send a letter regretting his absence through illness. Mr Lyon expressed the opinion that the tax on totalisator receipts should be graduated and not a flat rate. A graduated tax was tlie only way to relieve the country clubs. It was decided to make representation to this effect to the Prime Minister. Mr Bruce (Thames) suggested a reduction to lj per cent. Mr Lyon: Not Buckley’s chance. If the country clubs could not carry on they would go out and they would be killing the goose that laid the golden egg. He had heard that exemption was likely under a certain sum, but it sounded too good to be true. It was decided to write to the affiliated clubs on the matter of reducing expenses in regard to stipendiaries and racecourse detectives and to recommend the year to year contributions to the Sports Protection League. One member expressed the opinion that if they could not look after their own interest without paying another association £6OO, it was a poor look out. The election of office-bearers resulted:— President, Mr W. Jewell, vice-President, Mr J. Kennedy (Geraldine); Executive: Messrs E. R. Neale, D. J. Evans and F. Roche (South Island), Hon. E. A. Alison, Messrs A. Bruce and W. A. Lyon (North Island).

March, 1924 . 37,477 8 0 Receipts tax (21 per cent) 3,876 1 5 Amusement tax .. • . 16,316 5 3 Land tax . • — es 2,196 14 5 Total £452,467 15 1