THE RACING GAME.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16744, 27 May 1922, Page 10

THE RACING GAME.

TOO DEAR TO CARRY ON.

OWNERS WANT RELIEF.

A deputation of owners of trotting; and galloping horses waited on the Prime Minister this morning with a request for relief from taxation on ■winnings and a reduction in railway rates on horses. Mr G. Witty, M.P., introduced the deputation.

Speaking as a private horse owner (of gallopers) Mr J- S- Barrett sain that the cost of racing had so greatly T increased that several owners had given up racing, notably the Douglas estate, Mr High den and the two Stead brothers. The Riddiford stable had been greatlv reduced. Mr Massey: I think the price of wool had as much to do with that as anvthing else. Mr Barrett.: Exactly, the two combined. He added that- he had sent two horses to Timam, only 100 miles awnv by rail, and be had been successful in winning the biggest stake, worth £325 to the winner. His total profit was £217 10s, so that even if one were uniformly successful it would not be possible to carry on very long. It was a question of v hether the Government wanted ra ing to be carried on

or .net. Mr J. AV. Trist, president of the Trotting Owners’ and Breeders’ Association, said that the association had been ?ucc«-«.-ful. in getting the horse train reduced f' * m a minin'um of 00 to 40, but it was not a great concession, and there had been no reduction in horse fares. The cost fell heavier on trotting owners, who were mostly composed of working men. and thev were beinsr driven out of the business. The 10 per cent tax on winnings, plus the increased cost of travelling, made the cost of the sport too heavy The sporting fraternity wore paying disproportionately through the amusement tax, than the “ wowser ” element and the Government should reduce taxation. Mr R.. J. Munro said that he recognised the financial difficulties of the Minister of Railways, hut the owners of racing and trotting horses'also had their troubles, and wages and other expenses had been increased by up to 150 per cent. In the case of horse trains, when there was a lo~s. the department did not allow for the fares of passengers or sulkies in assessing the deficit. As for the 10 per cent charged to winning owners, trotting men realised the difficulties of the country, and they were prepared to play the game, bult the importation of imported American sires meant that, there were many good horses in the country and they’ had either to he raced or sold below their value. EYen for the winning owner, it was possible to carry on. They were good citizens and they were prepared to support Mr Massey if he gave them a chance. Mr IV. S. Mitchell compared the high rates for racehorses with the low rates for other horses sent to agricultural shows. Mr Witty said that at one meeting, where the stakes totalled £6250, the Government got £6OOO, and in another case, where the stakes were £6OO, the Government got £575.

Mr Massey said he might as well admit that owners were very heavilv taxed ; but at the time he had to find money’, and he had had to look round for a source of money to make ends meet at the end of the year- When he was discussing the matter, leading owners came to him, and whereas his dwn inclination was to increase the tax from 1 per cent to 5 per cent, they had offered to make it 10 per cent if he limited it to two years, and he agreed to this, although he believed it was not put in the Act. The costs of running the railway had increased enormously.

Mr Witty: Cheaper fares would bring more passengers. Mr Massey : But it would not make up the difference. By August, when the racing year commenrod, he would be able to make a statement.

In reply to questions the Prime Minister said that there would he a revision of taxation at the end of two years, if not before. He would look into the assessing of passenger fares on race trains in making up the deficit.