SPORT IN JEOPARDY

Taranaki Daily News, 26 March 1932, Page 8

SPORT IN JEOPARDY

RACING CLUBS FACE CRISIS / BURDEN OF TAXATION. STATE DRAIN ON FINANCES. URGENT NEED OF RELIEF. Racing in New Zealand at the present time is passing through a difficult stage, and the sustained fall in revenue derived from the totalisator and other sources has placed many clubs on the verge of bankruptcy. Unless relief is given from the heavy burden of taxation under which the sport is labouring, the embarrassments that face some clubs and. their guarantors will mean extinction (says the Dominion). The strain of taxation is aggravated during the present season by the acute depression, and the position generally is causing the racing authorities of New Zealand very grave concern. Last year 72 racing clubs suffered, a total less of £56,182 and 26 trotting clubs lost £19,445, a total of £75,627. Eighteen, racing clubs made a profit of £3964 and six trotting clubs made £lO6B, a total of £5032. The current racing year still has some four months to run, but the position is considerably worse. The majority of meetings have been run at a loss and those who have escaped disaster have been fortunate to come out square or with the smallest of profits. \