OUR SPORTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2832, 25 July 1916, Page 8

OUR SPORTS

HOW THEY FARE DURING WAR PROTECTION LEAGUE'S REPORT In the annual report of tho New Zealand Sports Protection League, Sir George Clifford, states—"lt is expect-ed-that at a time when so much effort' is, being concentrated on tbo war, and questions for local legislation are being held in abeyance, tlmt tho activities'of tho league are somewhat more restricted than they wonld be in normal' times. It is, of course, necessary to keep the organisation in that condition of preparedness that it will be in a position at any time, and perhaps more particularly when the war is over, to exert its strong influence in favour of the objects for which it has been established. This is being done. Advantage has also been taken to establish brandies in puts of the Dominion in which, through various circumstances, the league was not previously •represented. The Board of- Control has also endeavoured to majce the league useful for patriotic purposes. The general secretary has continued to hold the position of executive officer for the Wellington Provincial Branch of the Dominion Belgian Fund, the contributions to which have increased during the year by -E12,000, without any expense of administration.. .

"The principle that all recreation' grounds not used for private gain should be exempted from rates has been shown to be>s'ouud, and the league has been successful in. getting it adopted in some degree by tho larger municipalities. Difficulty is, "however, ..being experienced in obtaining relief for those clubs which are largo ratepayers to suburban boroughs. The league has attempted during the year, by deputation, to secure some remission under, the existing statute.'JThe law, however,' at present, does not go further than give'authority to exempt. The circumstances of small local bodies make it necessary for them, to view the exaction aud collection of rates as their most important' work, and beyond spending the money, practically their only function. The development, of districts, which will in a short tune become large centres of population, upon modern lines with a view lo the future does not appear to come within their sphere, or perhaps within their'means. The result is that tho more recent All'orts of the leaguo to extend tho principle of exempting playing areas from lpcal rates to suburban areas has not beeu successful. Public recreation grounds similarly situated are also" heavily ' taxed. The case of Cornwall Park, Auckland, is probably the most -glaring one. Although situated outside the city boundary, these large and beautiful grounds are open free to the whole of Auckland's largo population. ' The. trustees are forced to give grazing rights anil adopt other unsatisfactory .methods to raise revenue to pay the rate, which amount to JJIUHI 17s. Gd. per annum. Jlucli-minired improvements, as well as the formation of sports oil tho park, are necessarily neglected..' Had the, present -session of Parliament not been looked upon as one solely, for war measures, tho Board of Control would have promoted legislation (o secure some exemption to meet the cases referred to. . Steps will, however, be taken as soon as an opportunity offers.

"The question of war, taxation was a matter of.concern to the league at.the lime the last annual report was circulated., 'The additional tax since, imposed' on the sporting community has been accepted them in ' an excellent spirit,' and; besides providing a revenue much in. excess of that■ estimated, the various clubs have supplemented it by.very handsome donations to patriotic funds of the whole or portion of'their profits. The proposals now before Parliament do iiot aim at any further increase, and the Government no doubt considers that the. section of the people who contribute towards this taxation are at present doing all that is'required'of them. With this view we entirely concur. In considering 'the question of curtailing or abandoning sjiort during the period of the war, the interests of the ytate should be paramount. The continuation of our-sports and pastimes lias not up to the present impaired the efficiency of the. State or interfered with the work of recruiting. Oil the other hand, the relaxation afforded .has done much tb ktep up the splendid spirit which the people have shown, during what will probably be.the most tryiug times the war."