RACING CONDITIONS IN NEW ZEALAND.

Shannon News, 16 July 1929, Page 1

RACING CONDITIONS IN NEW ZEALAND.

PRESIDENT'S REPORT

TO ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The annual meeting of delegates to the Racing Conference commenced in Wellington yesterday. President's Report

In his presidential report, Sir George Clifford stated: "You will realise it is with no little disappointment that I am compelled to apologise for my absence to-day, which is solely because I am not permitted to travel. First and foremost I must condole with you on the calamity which has befallen us in the sad death of Sir Charles Skerrett, who was a consistent friend of the conference, and who had reached an eminence he was so highly qualified to adorn. It is <■ gratifying to know that his great qualities have been testified to both in this country by his elevation as Chief Justice, and in the Home Country/ by the widespread recognition shown at his crowded fun er'a.l. We have suffered amongst the ranks of colonial sportsmen by the decease of; Messrs Hugo Friedlander, K. M. Macdonald, C. Kennedy, W. Hume,, and W: R. Kettle.

"For their services in acting as judges on appeals lodged with the conference we have to thank Messrs J.

S. Barrett, A. T. Donnelly, J. G. Duncan, W. M'A. Duncan, Geo. Gould, H. F. Johnston, H. Lowry, G. N. McLean, J. S. McLeod, H. A. Russell, and 0. S. Watkins. We shall all regret to miss an old friend and colleague from our proceedings this year, habituated as we have been to look on Mr. W. E. Bidwill for his wise counsel. *

"I urge most strongly on owners and breeders, of thoroughbred horses to be most careful in registering names, and to fill in all required details on the forms supplied for the

purpose by the secretary of the conference, with all brands and birth or accidental marks. Instances are not. far to seek in which attention to these provisions against- fraud or results of negligences have proved signally effective in saving serious consequences.

Seeing the great value of the New Zealand Stud Book to all interested in the sport of racing, it seems incredible that any owners, breeders, or clubs should fail to Keep a full set of such invaluable records, or to omit subscription to its periodic issue. I appeal to breeders to return regularly and

promptly each season the, coverings and foalings of their brood mares to . the compiler. "The freedom our racecourses enjoy from undesirable characters is largely attributable to the fact and watchful- ; ness of our racecourse inspectors, whose appointment has throughout borne most excellent results. Much has been gained by the assistance given to local officials by our stipendiary stewards, whose continuous experience enables them to be of very great utility in

many ways. It has long been the feeling of our legislators on the conference that persons, after having been convicted of criminal offences, should not be allowed to work in racing stables. One object of this conference from its very inception has been to raise the tone of the jockey's pro-

fession to the high standard to which it naturally aspires. The licensing committee is determined to support the, ambition of the great majority of our trainers and jockeys to keep the tone of their professions at the highest possible level, especially by eliminating

those whose insobriety or misconduct tends to lower it. It rests with ownera and licensed trainers to inquire strictly into the character of persons employed by them. lam strongly averse to the proposal to permit, again, the registration of assumed names for owners —a practice years since abandoned in Great Britain. "The increasing demand for New

Zealand bred horses is shown by the fact that over 200 horses were sold or dispatched to Australia during the current season, recalUng what an increasing market exists for our stock abroad, though our Government does not encourage breeding as other Governments

do. If the Government should, dunng the coming session, introduce the longdesired Gaming Amendment Bill, it will have, deserved our gratitude, as well as of the important body of sportsmen who do so much to keep alive the vigour of the nation. This is no new note for us to strike, and I cannot do better than quote from previous reports those arguments which still forcibly support our views: We look for the removal of the wholly absurd prohibition of the publication of dividends, which serves no good purpose, and assists the law-breaking bookmaker. Why should the pub»- c and the newspapers be shut off from ] news which law-breakers circulate freely among themselves and to their confederates? We desire permission to

remit investments on the totalisator I to dubs on race days. Telegraph facii lities are given to law-breakers. Why ' not to law-abiding citizens? It should not be forgotten that the totalisacor ' cannot tempt by giving credit, cannot lay contracted odds, and cannot i commissions, but gives ecra&i »>* Hay to all. The law at present debars the i bookmaker from following liis trade; i it is illogical to leave open to him the practical monopoly of it beyond the

precincts of the racecourse. With provision tor telegraphing investments on the totalisator to secretaries of racing clubs, the investor would escape from the limited prices and barred horses of the bookmakers, who contribute no revenue to the State or to racing. -Restrictions which foster illegal betting, and create disrespect for the law and its administration are highly undesirable, and should be repealed. "The amounts of the various taxes paid during the present and previous seasons are as herein set out: —

Local Rates .... £10,677 £9,137 "A general revision of the system of racing taxation is urgently required. In some cases so far from the tax being based on the income of the individual, it is actually levied on a debit balance. This obviously tends ultimately to dry up the fountain of supply. We have again, represented oui case to the Government, and we look for the relief so urgently required. "In the interests of the harassed horse-owners, the public which desires a day's recreation at a reasonable fare, and the-,Kailway Department itself, we appeal for the reinstatement: of the former concession of a single fare, and the return journey free for racehorses, and that the fares of race trains oughi to be not greater than the usual excursion rate. The railway charges are driving horse-owners to use properly equipped mator lorries for the transport of their horses, and this method is meeting with great and, increasing favour. The argument of the department's officials in the past has been "that racehorse traffic is by no means a remunerative proposition to the railways. This statement is doubted, inasmuch as racehorse traffic is vital to a very profitable consequential traffic, a fact which the railway returns musl verify. It is submitted that the Bailway Department's revenue from people travelling by rail to race meetings is so profitable that it is only fair and businesslike to set off against that revenue the railway carriage of racehorses. If horscowners are not given every inducement to send their horses by rail to the various race meetings, and thereby'make the meetings attractive, the department's revenue, and that of the clubs, and the Government, must suffer accordingly."

1927-28 1928-29 £ Totalisator Tax X (2i per cent.) . . 140,841 124,296 Dividend Tax (5 per cent.) . ., ,253,482 223,731 Stakes Tax (5 per cent.) . . 21,063 19,709 Amusement-Tax . . 13,946 12,505 Receipts Tax repealed (2i per cent.) . 1,171 1927 2,840 2,784 Income Tux on ■Interest . . .. . — , 190 £433,346 £383,219