THE FUTURE OF RACING

Hokitika Guardian, 25 July 1931, Page 2

THE FUTURE OF RACING

WHOSE MOVE?

(From N.Z. Referee)

The various conferences held in Wellington last week of the representatives of both forms of the' sport of horse racing served to illustrate further—if any illustration was needed—that this form of sport is facing a crisis. The various speakers—and there were many representing both metropolitan and country flubs from all over the Dominion—laid particular emphasis on the fact that horse racing had carried its burden until from sheer exhaustion it could stagger barely another yard. The position seemed to be very concisely summed up by the President of the Trotting Conference,. Mr If. F. Nicoll, who, in the course of his presidential address, said : In my humble opinion politicians might, .with advantage, learn some lessons from the Conference' and clubs, who have always given an example ot faith in our future joined with the patience and determination to ntake full USe of the resource's within our reach, moving forward in a spirit of fellowship and endeavouring to do our duty with goodwill to all with whom we come in contact. , This statement very ably sums up the ■position in a few words. 'The racing and trotting bodies have from time to 'time willingly shouldered additional burdens, realising that horse racing is one form of sport which must carry its fair share of taxation. Of late, however, they have every justification lor the belief that in the comprehension of their responsibilities they have been imposed upon.

'ln the course of the conferences held last week individual cases of hardship were recounted, but generally the position was the same with all clubs. Suffice it to say that a system under which a club, with encumbrances to the extent of five figures, can lose over one and a half thousand pounds sterling on its year’s operations and still have to foot a State taxation bill of £-4000, is ridiculous in the extreme.

* In the present state of the Dominion’s finances it is beyond all question seeking ary relief from .'taxation. Rather is ■it to be feared that the sport may have some further imposition forced on it. There are grounds, however, for urging that the clubs should be given the opportunity of exploiting every possible avenue which will yield further revenue. .. In.-the words of one speaker at the annual meeting of the Country Racing Clubs’ Association, the position between tfie clubs arid is oiie 'of debtor and creditor on its part, if it has aiiy eye for business, will see that the debtdl'j still able to contribute something, is assisted to become a more productive source of .revenue and is not forced out of business.

The clubs cart have no objection to providing the State with over half a million sterling annually in taxation so long as they are given facilities to pay their way and make sufficient to develop the sport. Of late, however, thev'har n been committed to find that amount of money while they themselves find it impossible to make ends meet. Such a position is farcical and can have only one ending for the clubs. The., sport of horse racing has reached that point where, fettered by a law which prevents it from helping itself, it requires succouring from an external source. The people promoting and controlling it, while appreciating that they must always have extensive' obligations to the State, must be given the credit for knowing what measures will best suit their aims to increase their revenue' and"" make the sport pay its way.

So far their appeals in this direction have fallen on deaf ears. The position has become so desperate with so many clubs that- a combined effort is needed to appeal to the good sense of the Legislature in an effort to obtain the passage of the measures sought and thus avert annihilation for those clubs in distress. These measures to which very frequent reference has been made, will give the horse' racing sport the additional revenue it requires to tide it over the time of stress and will also recoup the shrinkage in the State’s “cut.” If thg l ' Government is as keen as it professes to be in its search for additional revenue it must heed the signal which was given so frequently at the Turf conferences' last week.