RACING CONFERENCE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 273, 13 July 1932, Page 3

RACING CONFERENCE

PRESIDENT'S REPORT PRESENT CONDITIONS GIVING GRAVE CONCERN TO CLUBS. FAVOURS AMALGAMATION. WELLINGTON, Tuesday. In his annual report to the delegates at the annual conference of the New Zealand Racing Club, whieh opened to-day, the president, Mr. 0. S. Watkins, 0Utlined_the diificulties which the sport was facing, engendered by the world-wide depression and stated that the position generally was the cause of grave concern, and clubs, realising their precarious financial position, liad, during the last year, been foreed to seek permission to reduce the amount 6f stake-money. In most cases he had approved of the reductions where he considered the application justified. Repeating remarks contained in his last annual report, Mr. Watkins asserted that clubs racing in close proximity to each other, whose present financial position renders it necessary for them to seek outside aid should amalgamate. Such an arrangement would, he was convinced, if in the meantime only as a temporary expedient, have the following definite advantages: — (a) A material reduction of overhead expenses; (b) instead of small isolated meetings of purely local interest, two or three meetings with programmes attractive, not only to local owners and racegoers, but to visitors as well; (c) a possibility of arranging more suitable racing dates. (d) increased membership of the amalgamated clubs, and greater interest in the sport. Definite Results Achieved. Continuing, Mr. Watkins said: "I am pleased to inform you that since the last meeting of the conference, representations made to the Government, stressing the grave financial diificulties confronting practically all racing clubs, and pointing out that many of them would be unable to continue their activities unless immediate and substantial relief was forthcoming, have achieved a definite result, i.e., the clubs' prop'ortion of the Totalisator Tax of 12% per cent. has been increased from 7| per cent. to 8$ per cent. for a period of twelve months, ending March 31, 1933; also that, in addition to the existing rebate of l\ per cent. on the first £20,000, a further rebate of 14 per cent. would be allowed in necessitous cases." Referring to the telegraphing of investments, the president stated that it was his opinion that if the Government passes a Bill repealing the statutory provisions which prevent the telegraphing or remitting of investments on the totalisator through the post office and the operation of the double totalisator, it would stabilise the revenue it derives from racing, add materially to the revenue of the Post and Telegraph Department, and, as a further result thereof, afford an additional measure of relief so necessary to all clubs. Double Totalisator Favoured. Failing authority to remit investments; he suggested that there was no justifiable reason why the double totalisator should not be legalised, merely as an adjunct to or an extension of the facilities now provided by the ordinary totalisator. Reverting to the diffieulties under which clubs were labouring, he said: "It is very regrettable that some clubs have been forced to drop some of their classic races out of their programmes. I sincerely trust that such a step is only a very temporary one. Classic races are the foundation of our sport, and even the temporary loss of a few of these races is a blow to the prestige of our racing." Referring to the control exercised by the club, he stated that the efforts of the stipendiary stewards continued by their good work to increase the confidence of the public in the conduct of the sport. The three permanent oificers were men of high integrity,- with a keen sense of their responsibilities. Their duties took them from meeting to meeting, where they gave valuable assistance in the management of race meetings. It is not altogeth'er the number of cases they call upon judicial committees to inquire into by which their work should be judged, but the deterrent effect their presence at a race meeting exercises upon persons participating in the sport, who might be otherwise inclined to take risks in the absence of the stipendiary officials. He took the opportunity of stressing upon judicial committees the necessity for them to realise their responsibilities, and to mete out suitable punishment in all cases of foul, careless or incompetent riding. In a case of crossing or jostling, standing a rider down for the day is an insuificient penalty. The rule governing such cases provides for suspension or disqualification for such period as the stewards think fit, but it was never intended to interpret the period to be "one day."