COUNTRY RACING CLUBS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2519, 14 July 1915, Page 4

COUNTRY RACING CLUBS

ANNUAL CONFERENCE GOVERNING BODY CRITICISED, .The annual meeting of the New Zealand Country Eacirig. Clubs' Association.was held in. tho./Xowu Hall, last night; ilv. Albert Bruce (Thames), presiding. ! Tho report'of the'executive covered the year's work .and .stated that, while attending ~to "every detail of . the business, 'expenses had been kept .within a very nominal 6um. The receipts for the year amounted to : i£Ul9s. : 6d., and the, expenditure to »C 21,35.- the deficit for'thcryear ; beihg iC6i.3s. Gd. '. The report and the .balance-sheet were , adopted. ' ■It-was decided that olubs affiliated to the association should pay'; a'levy of ono guinea to cover expenses during the com-ing-year. ■' .Tho president, in consequence of » request from tho Thames Jockoy Club, moved: "That tho attention of the Government be drawn to the enormous increase of revenue derived from taxation .imposed on 5 racing clubs (amounting last year to over .£107,000), and that representations. bo made to the Prime Minister that the existing system of taxation imposed on racing clubs by which, in addition to a tax'of 21- per cent, on tho gross amount put through tho totalisator, a further tax of 2J- per cent, is imposed on the gross receipts from other sources is inequitable arid wrong in ' principle* and : that any taxation other than the totalisator tax should bo on a basis of profits made by clubs." A deputation was appointed to bring the resolution under tho notice of the Prime Minister this ■ morning. . Messrs. F. J. Kobcrts (Ashhurst), T. Butler (Waipawa), Arnold Weston (Pahiatua), and A, j, Tntton (North Canterbury) expressed the thanks of . their club 9 tor the valuable assistance rendered by the association in regaining some of tho lost totalisator permits. • 'Mr.v K W. Alison said that this gave him the opportunity to bring forwanl a resolution he had in mind. Ho moved: "That this association desires to record its appreciation of tho increased number of totaßsator licenses granted to country racing clubs, and tenders its congratulations to tho several which were deprived of their totalisator permits, but have had some restored; also to the new country racing clubs and" 1 hunt clubs, which have been .granted totalisator;licenses;" '" "

This was seconded by Mr. Butler apd carried unanimously.'.. • . v

' It. was .decided- to Beiid'a letter- .of thanks to Mr. G. Hunter, M.P., for his efforts in securing!the passage of- tho Bill, which'-brought about thd restoration of the lost~.perinits. . < App'rwiatioh was 'also .'expressed of tho manner in.'which tlio Eoyal Commission (Messrs. G. Hunter and T. H. Daivey) had carried out the/difficult task of distributing the permits regained. Mr. Tutton moved: ~ . .. - v. , ~

■ "That this a'siociatioi;views'with alarhi the excessive'taxation imposed on racing clubs by. tho New Zealand' Eacing Con- . ference to meet the .payment of salaries and 'expenses of stipendiary stewards, amounting last year to nearly <£3000; and are of' opinion that tho best interests, of racing have not been appreciably advanced by- the- introduction of stipendiary stewards." ' ' Mr. Butler seconded the resolution. Tho prcsidont strongly supported the resolution. He contended that nothing had cqme from tho "expenditure of £300(1 ,for;.stipendiary, etewards,, cxcc.pt that :a little oxtra ;patronag6 ihad been ;giveh the president of the'Eacirig Cduferonce. '' ; The resolution was carried'dnaniniously.' !'On the iuotion-.tof.. Mr. : D.- J., Evans, it .was uhanin|ously..;resolved: "'That,vthia. association, enter a . strong ; tho : increasing. charges .proposed to .1)0 .. im'ri posed "on,. clubs, by the Now Zealand' Rac- ' ljig Conference and- protests against' theproposal that a oommitteo : be constituted to appoint permanent raceCourse detectives at a high'cost, consid-ering-that the appointment and control of' such matters should remain with the discretion of the clubs."

'■ Mr.'E.'W, Alison, in' proposing the reelection of Mr.-..Bruco as president, moyed: "That this association desires to rec6rd' its appreciation of the- able,; earnest, and zealous services rendered by our worthy president (Mr. A. on behalf of tho country clubs of fte.w: Zealand." • . >•'

The motion was seconded' by Mr. Evans and carried by acclamation.

Mr. D. J. Evans was elected vice-pre-sident, and members of the executive were elected as follow: Messrs. H; H. Hayr anil E. W. Alison (North Island), and Messrs. E. Einney and H. C. Van Aich (South Island), .