“PAY AT THE GATE”

Taranaki Daily News, 12 June 1930, Page 5

“PAY AT THE GATE”

Editorial—:

The abuse of the complimentary ticket system is one which racing clubs, in view of the financial stringency causing loss of revenue, must surely tackle in the near future, and the sooner the proble.m is faced the better for all concerned. In past years many ilubs distributed free passes ad lib, hoping thereby to popularise their race meetings, and by augmented totalisator figures to rank amongst the progressive clubs of the Dominion. But .totalisator turnover is of .little use to the clubs, provided 'that the amount handled one year is sufficient to provide stake money money for the following year, for totalisator revenue must go back to horseowners eventually. In consequence of this almost wholesale distribution of “eomplimentaries” there has grown up in Our midst a huge army of so-called sportsmen, who simply demand free privileges, and are very “hurt” if called upon to “weigh out” at the main gate. And the trouble is. that free tickets may be given to persons who have no earthly right to them; in fact, to the class yhich is no use to any racing club. Jf the .“free list” was limited to entrance only the matter wouid not be so absurd, but these persons do not stop at that. Tickets for the members’ stand, luncheon and afternoon tea and refreshment tickets are all claimed as their “right.” At the recent annual-meeting of the Marton Jockey Club some very pertinent questions were asked concerning tickets, and the Opinion was'expressed that the club was altogether too generous, and that drastic curtailment of these privileges would have to be undertaken. As the outcome a meeting of representatives of all racing clubs in the. Wanganui district has been called to discuss the matter, and, judging by the opinions openly expressed by prominent members.of several clubs concerned, the proposals to tighten up pn the privilege question are likely to be unanimously supported.. Probably the evidence of a member of the Wanganui District Committee, who recently returned from Australia,, where he raced a horse at several New South Wales meetings, will prove surprising if he addresses the proposed conference. He will tell New Zealanders that in Sydney there is simply no such thing as a “free list.” The sole exception is “one horse, one attendant,” and.if the horse’s trainer wants to get in, he has to pay at the gate like everybody else. Mr. G; D. Greenwood had to pay when he wanted to see Gloaming run there, Mr. H. A. Knight when Limerick ran, Mr. A. Louisson when Nightmarch showed his paces, and so on. The Governor-General has to “part up.” Even the secretary of the A.J.C., it is said, has to pay at the gate. Up-country New South Wales clubs follow the same rule. To quote one secretary. “We do not print 1 complimentary tickets.” So that settles it. These country clubs are not mean, but their rules are adamant on this point. True, in order to attract hors’es from the centres they pay the railway fares of all horses which do not win a stake at their meetings. But there the “free list” ends.

Dunedin papers recently reported the hectic time enjoyed by a penniless imposter who acted the swell in social circles at Christchurch and at Dunedin —a gaol-bird, recently released, who left behind him a string of duped creditors, the latter surfeited with unpaid bills and valueless cheques, before again becoming one of His Majesty’s boarders. Yet this individual attended a race meeting at Riecarton as the guest of the august body of the Canterbury jockey Club, and threw a heavy chest amongst the social lions before being requested by a racecourse detective to make himself Scarce. Wanganui racing clubs are taking the matter up, and later on Taranaki clubs will have the same problem to confront. The position must be faced sooner or later, and in the interests of the clubs’ .welfare it behoves all to act 'fearlessly, without favour, and'thus Wipe out for all time abuses which should never have been allowed' to creep in. The motto must be: “Pay At The Gate!”' • • ■' —“Paritutu;”