RACING CLUB'S OHAHGE OF VENUE

Shannon News, 9 October 1923, Page 4

RACING CLUB'S OHAHGE OF VENUE

REASONS FORI MOVE TO WELLINGTON.

CRUSHING GOVERNMENT TAXATION.

In connection) iwith. the arranger meat arrived at to hold this year’s meeting of the Levin Racing' Club at Trenthami in conjunction with the 1 .Wellington Spring meeting, the president of the local club, Mr J. McLeavey, in response to an enquiry by » “News’’ representative supplied particulars of the circumstances leading up to the decision. “The governing factor In the situation,” Mr McLeayey explained, “wag the fact that owing to the high Goyemment taxation, the Club found itself faced with the fact that it could not carry out certain improvements urgently required on the course, and without which it was impossible to carry on a satisfactory meeting. How heavy this taxation is, is illustrated by the fact that last year £I2OO was paid to the Government on the one day’s meeting. The condition of the appointments of the course was the result of the club losing its permit during the six years which included the wiar period, and during which no expenditure was made on the buildings, fences, etc. When the one day’s permit was restored these appointments were in such a condition as to require immediate attention.; but owing to the heavy taxation of the post war period it was impossible to obtain the necessary revenue. He. instanced the fact that last year although the) club was favoured with perfect weather conditions, a good attendance and large acceptances, the amount cleared by the club was only £ll2, although as Was'been previously stated the Government was paid taxes' amounting to £I2OO. The sum required to put the course in thorough order again has been estimated as, at the very lowest figure, £1500: under the best conditions the club could not expect to make more than £2OO out of a meeting in Levin, whilst) if wet weather were experienced, a loss of £SOO or more might easily be made, arid as. the Oub has no surplus .ion which to work, this sum would fall directly on the stewards and members of the club. Eventually this course might result in the abandonment of the meeting. Under the circumstances it was de-

cided to approach the Metropolitan Club for permission to race in Trentham for one year, a precedent for country clubs racing in. the centres having been established in various parts, notably

in the. Auckland district where several

of the smaller clubs, faced with the same difficulties as Levin, have, raced successfully in Auckland. Mr McLeavey pointed out) that it was not the Racing Club, alone but the A. and P. Society’s Show which would be affected by any serious loss resulting to the club. The ground on which the meeting and also the show is held is owned by debenture hold-

era to whom interest must .be paid. The greater portion of this interest is supplied by the Racing Club, -and the loss of the meeting would inevitably result in the abandonment of the show. It is hardly necessary, he said, to point out the 1 irreparable loss this would be to the district: already the local show is becoming a valuable one from a dairyman’s point of view, and 6very year will become more so. Levin is rapidly becoming the centre for the breeding of pedigree Jerseys in the Manawatu and these will be shown at the local show with a consequent advertisement of 'the town and district. If by any chance the bodies responsible were unable to keep the interest paid up, nothing would remain to the. debenture holders but to cut U P the property and; if at some later date it was decided to re-start the show, the society .would be faced .with the necessity of purchasing land, inevitably less suitably situated, at a much' greater price than that paid for the present site. The deputation from the Levin Club which .waited on the Wellington Racing Club found.after explaining the circumstances thaty that body Was fully alive to their position and willing to assist as far as possible. Permission was granted to hold the meeting in conjunction with the Wellington Club’s spring fixture, provided the sanction of the Minister of Internal Affairs could be obtained. The same willingness wa® experienced here and although there was some slight difficulty in arranging a date whch would not . clash with other clubs’ fixtures, this was eventually successfully arranged, thanks being due particularly to the stewards and the secretary of the Wellington Racing Club. Mr, Whyte, and to' the Messrs Linklater and Field, M.’sP., patrons of the club, who were, assiduous in their efforts to promote the arrangement.

Special train arrangements have been made to enable local patrons to return home on the day of the meeting, travelling at excursion rates. With the proceeds of the Wellington meeting it isi hoped l to go on early next year with the necessary improvements to the course. In conclusion, Mr. McLe&vey said that there had been at first a certain amount of local opposition to the proposal to shift the meeting to Trentham, buit this came m all instances from people who were not conversant with the whole of the facts. These facts were now more generally understood, and with this better understanding the stewards met nothing but appreciation of the arrangements made.