COUNTRY RACING CLUBS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2756, 10 July 1924, Page 3

COUNTRY RACING CLUBS.

♦ ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

Wellington, Tuesday.

At the annual conference of the New Zealand Country Racing Clubs a resume of the year’s operations was given and the financial position regarded as satisfactory. The president, Mr W. T. Jewell, of Foxton, referred to the deputation to the Prime Minister and hoped they would get relief from taxation. Many clubs were showing a loss and relief jvas urgently required, The valuable assistance of Mr Albert Bruce, of Thames, was referred to and it was decided to send a letter regretting his absence through illness. Mr W. A. Lyon (Woodville) expressed Ihe opinion that the tax on totalisator receipts should lie graduated. It was decided to make representation to this effect lo the Prime Minister.Mr Race, of Thames, suggested a reduction of li per cent. Mr Lyon said there was not Buckley’s chance of securing this. If the country 1 clubs could not carry on they would go out, and they would be killing the goose that laid the golden egg. He had heard that exemption was likely under a certain sum, 1)U 1 it sounded too good to he true.

It was decided to write to affiliated clubs on the matter of reducing expenses in regard to stipendiary stewards and racecourse detectives and recommend them to cease contributions lo the Sports Prolection League. One member expressed the opinion that if they could not look after their own interests without, paying another Association £6OO, it was a poor look-out. The election of officers resulted as follows: —President, Mr W. Jewell; vice-president, Mr J. Kennedy (Geraldine); executive Messrs E. R. Neale, D. J. Evans, and F. Roche (South Island), Hon. E. A. Alison, Messrs A. Bruce and W. A. Lyon (North Island).