EXPLOITATION

NZ Truth, Issue 1188, 6 September 1928, Page 13

EXPLOITATION

Another Imposition At The Trots 4 (Prom "N.Z. Truth's" Auckland Rep.) Though charges to N.Z. racecourses are lighter than m other countries, it is doubtful whether any racing community pays more dearly m betting taxation than Dominion punters. . COR that reason racing and trotting, heads should display a tendency to keep down actual charges of admittance to their tracks. Not so the Auckland Trotting Club. It has been decided that m future lawn patrons will have to part with 10s., while the charge for ladies will be 7s. 6d. and for children 3s. tt is doubtful if this will prove a wi6e move on the part of the A.T.C., and those responsible for the increase are not to be commended for their action m exploiting the ever-paying public.

It was the reasonable charges made for admission by "the two leading trotting clubs of the Dominion which played a great part m drawing such attendances to Addington and Alexandra* Park. How these attendances will keep up at Alexandra Park under increased charges remains to be seen.

, To attempt'! to point out that the price of admission to Alexandra Park is still less than that fixed for Ellerslie. on race days will not stand . the acid.

There is. something to see for your money inside the lawn at Ellerslie, while, to be plain, from a speculative viewpoint there is more security and confidence ' about punting at the gallops than at the trots.

In the interests of trotting enthusiasts generally, "N.Z. Truth" does not approve of the A.T.C. raising the price of admission.

It looks mighty like an easy way of telling the public that because the electric total isator is beings keenly demanded, it will have to be provided by an extra charge on patrons who have already been exploded almost up to killing point.

An easier way out for the A.T.C. to have built up its finances would have been to have saved some of the thousands which have probably gone m "entertaining" charges down the years.

If the figures under this heading were made public it would probably astound most trotting enthusiasts, while even some of the committee may have shuddered when they dwelt on the point.