COUNTRY RACING CLUBS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 June 1930, Page 7

COUNTRY RACING CLUBS

ANNUAL REDOUT OF EXECUTIVE

(X.Z Role roe)

lie annual coufVence of the New Zealand Country Racing Cub’s Assoc. ation will he hold in Welling-

ton on July 9th. next. 1 Tie executive’s annual report is as follows:

GREAT FIGURE PASSES

Reference was made to the passing ol' Sir George Lolior.l, who had tilled die office of president of the New Zealand Racing Conferen e with s ,e.. ereuit to lmnself and renown to tne A port itself. “Rac.ng in Mew Zealand made great etudes under the preside)), e- of Sir George,'’ tlie report continues. “who devoted his time and talents to its promotion. He was an outstanding elm.mom. for his prestige and personality gave him a status which, used wisely an i discreetly, earned his views and conv.ctions far, and gave to the conduct of the Conference the impress 01 the gentleman himself, 'the Rules of Racing are a monument to his untiring work and desire to promote the standard of racing in this country, and might well be regarded as a fitting memorial to the memory of o e who showed by every action how sin ere was his desire to ensure the conduct qf the sport so that jt would i.e above rppronph, “When the vogue of racing is recalled, the work of Sir George appears

the greater, lor it is due to his initiative and guidance that racing in tlra

Dominion to-day stands on such a high pedestal and that its popular favour is so pronounced. His passing is therefore something more than a loss to the sport itself. A great figure in the racing world has been removed; a gentleman with high ideal and a sincere desire to promote the good of racing. His loss in view of the Dominion wide popularty of racing, is a national ore, and our consolidation must be that while with us he was enabled to do so much in the direction lie worked always to ensure clean and wholesome -sport under conduct beyond reproach.

A WATCHFUL EYE,

“In regard to the general work of the Association a watchful eye was kept on possibilities to secure relief where possible. There was some satisfaction in the decision of the Railway Department to adjust the transport regulations for horses attending meetings, and the introduction of a simpler system of payment instead of the cumbersome method of refunds. Ihis had been urged in times past, and its achievement is to be appreciated.

HEAVY BURDENS

‘The various sporting organisations again strove to induce the Government to grant further financial relief to the sport, burdened as it is by such heavy

taxation, the hulk of which is collected by i*ie clubs for the bene~i of the State. 'flic Minister of Internal Affairs was always sympathetic ip answering deputations or requests for relief, but nothing practical has been done. Jt is regrettable that several country racing dubs are in financial difficulties. For many years now several of them have been struggling. In isolated centres the experiences are the more stringent, and the position of several dubs in this respect calls ror renewed requests for that measure of relief which will be helpful to those so seriously involved. This is a matter it is hoped will be taken up at the annual meeting, with a view of further rcpiesontations to the authorities for a measure of relief to meet special eases whore clubs meet w.tli adverse results through circumstances beyond their control.

tele:.; raphixg investments

“'J lie effort to secure amending legislation to the Gaming Act whereby

j..oney may ue sent to clubs for in-ve.-niem on the lotalisator and dividends may be published m the Press, again proved auortive. It is difficult to understand why the legislation along die lines desired is net proceeded with, The oomury will gain greatly increased revenue, not only by the extra taxation uirongh the totalisator hue by the thousands of pounds which wdl accrue annually through the Post and Telegraph Department. It is understood an estimate, has been made in the possible revenue to the Department referred to, and the figures are surprising, The process asked for will not increase betting proclivities, out it will mean that illicit betting now going on in a wholesale manner will he checked considerably. The repforts of proceedings' j.'n epnneatjop With the prosecution of bookmakers show that vast sums grp handled week by week from which the State obtains

no revenue, other than the stray fines imposed at rare intervals when bookmakers are convicted. If there were a legal way of betting, and betting for cash and not on credit, those, who now risk prosecutions by betting illegally with the local bookmaker would post or telegraph their money to the club concerned. By that process the State would secure revenue' now lost, and the clubs would find their turnover through the fiotalisator substantially increased. The advantages, are so practical in the result that it' is surprising indeed the responsible authorities ignore the special possibilities from this untapped source "of income. At the same time there would be less occasion to flout the law, and if tie law were ignored it would still lie possible to enforce fines for which a higher scale could bo imposed.

LEGISLATION FAVOURED

“The considered advice of those responsible for the conduct of the sport, gentlemen who have been responsible for lifting the sport to the high level it has obtained and maintaining it in the. reputable position, is altogether in favour of the legislation which has been urged year after year, Such experinoed .advice might have a more favourable reception by the authorities, It is the business of those controlling general management of racing to see the standard of the sport maintain-

ed at the highest. What lias been done along those lines is a guarantee of the bona tides of those charged with the duty of maintaining the good name of the sport, and tnat recommendation should support the advice offered as to the fuller and better control of the sport by means of legitimate as against illegitimate betkiaig. Probably there are strong influences working in the opposite direction, but the interests of the sport and the State demand that such influences should be ignored, and all aspects of the sport carried on in the light of day under organised conduct for the public good.

KEEPING IN TOUCH

“The executive has kept i» touch with current events affecting the spoil, and as opportunity offered used every endeavour to keep the interests of the struggling country clubs before the authorities. 1 “In order to afford the fullest information to Parliament in respect to the position of the clubs it would lie well were each club to notify the Parliamentary representative of the district of its financial position. As matters cropped up in the House the general situation could be fully investigated witn a sense of the facts of the case, and the desire to do the sport a measure of justice might be aroused.”

D. J EVANS. President,