PROGRESS OF RACING

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 95, 13 July 1927, Page 7

PROGRESS OF RACING

PRESIDENT’S REPORT The following report was presented this morning to the delegates assembled for the annual meeting of the New Zealand Racing Conference by the president. Sir Geo. Clifford, Bart.: I have had the pleasure of conveying to our former colleague, his Honour Sir Charles Skerrett, K.C.M.0., now Chief Justice of New Zealand, the congratulations of this conference upon the honour conferred upon him by His Majesty on New Year’s Bay. We are nil gratified by this tribute to a fine career. Since our last meeting there has been less work than usual upon our appellate system. We are indebted to Messrs. J. H. Perrett. H. A. Russell and O. S. Watkins for consenting to act as Appeal Judges, also to Messrs, j. Goring Johnston, J. H. Perrett and C W. Tringham for willingness to serve on an appeal subsequently withdrawn. During the year death has deprived us of many valued supporters of the Turf. Sir James Carroll was constant In his allegiance, and Messrs. A. Bruce, j. C. N. Grigg, Paul Hunter. J. C. Paterson and H. B. Vavasour will all be sadly missed in their own spheres. Mr. IV. H. E. Wanklyn. formerly secretary of the conference, and more recently editor of our Stud Book, earned our gratitude by continued devotion to our interests. CONTINUOUS PROGRESS During the 41 years of the life of our conference, progress which the Turf has needed has been continuous and beneficial to the community up to within very recent times. An organised system of supervision, and a consequent elevation of the tone of this healthy and popular pastime have gradually improved conditions, and secured confidence, until its value as an open-air recreation for the people is increasingly manifest. And now, when we should least expect It, comes peril from the quarter whence heartiest encouragement is due. Taxation out of all proportion to the taxed industry threatens a paralysing blow. I propose to append to this report a statement of the strong protest lodged with the Government against its twofold unwisdom in overloading the industry. and disabling it from supplying the coveted assistance to the Treasury. TAXATION’S HEAVY TOLL The amounts of the various taxes during the present and previous seasons are as herein set out: 1925-26. 1926-27. £ s. d. £ s- d. Total isator 25u‘ PCT 158,604 14 3 132,410 17 9 Dividend Mt) SP '; 285,622 4 6 238,414 611 «nU s?er 23,001 0 6 21,609 11 0 Rice ipts Tax (-1 . >n> o it percent.) 4,812 13 9 4,0.0 8 11 'mont U Tli 14,730 11 10 13,318 9 3 L Tax ". d 2,775 3 9 2.154 IS 6 £. 489,546 8 7 £413,033 12 4 L Ratrs £8,490 7 8 £9,630 13 8 In March a large and very representative deputation waited on the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Internal Affairs ‘J! the endeavour to make clear the effects of overbearing taxation upon racing. The representations tnen made were enlarged upon and at a conference between the Minl f e s and Messrs. O. S. Watkins and H. Sellers on behalf of the Racing Conference. The lepgthy. and we trust, effective nature of these argu > can only be justly gauged from P er J of the appendix. We estimate dispassionate study cannot fail t press upon the authorities the J and prudence of our representation-. THE GAMING BILL The Gaming Bill would, but for influences too readily permitted to succeed, have, last session, been passed into law. In the coming session, with a n introduction at an early stage in the Lower House, we may hope for fair treatment. We desire permission to remit investments to clubs on race tlays. Telegraph facilities are given to lawbreakers. ‘‘Why not to lawabiding citizens?” “Clubs which desire to instal double totalisators should be authorised to establish them.” The recent enforcements of a protective law long left inoperative, has niuch strengthened the power of the [■acing authorities in directing speculation on racecourses to legal and innocuous channels. Active persistence in this policy will not only protect the Public from many evils inseparable from the bookmaker system, but it will enable both racing clubs and the Government to secure their legitimate share of revenue as apportioned by Statute. It should not be forgotten that the totalisator cannot tempt by Riving credit, cannot lay contracted odds, and cannot refuse commissions. Pot gives equal fair play to all. EXCESSIVE CHARGES Before passing from our relations ''ith the Government I might appeal ki recons idcration of the rates chargeabie on racehorses to and from courses they are engaged to race. The carriage is -excessive, far exceeding Quotable rates to the Australian States. Seeing that every horse brings Passengers either attached to his seror attracted by his presence a liberal poliev in this respect would good business to the Railway Apartment. EULOGISMS t Among the benefits resulting from he conference’s regulations, we cannot

tion of Sur on, a the transformations of th« 2° urses due to the operagatherinvs » CC ”^ rSe inspectors. Our evil dnIX no lon “ er flooded with ,1 doers, nor are our raceward trains the ’sharper and the e hTth P /rto UOe tt' bUt ‘he aSsenceTf 1 he assistance afforded to the whole pendi n ,‘rv ra sV on °i racin « by the stisuriT.2 ° is undeniable, enn t ; if as does ' a valuable uniforfurtherfn Ctlon: , and - in m y opinion, shonm £? r . of , mae Pendent control officers. VeSted in these essential The success of New Zealand bred foreton ° n the Austr alian Turf should a - Profitable trade with the neighbouring States, as there is no doubt that our Bominion has many adiantages in breeding higli-class stock. No opening should be discouraged winch may tend toward restoring the much desired balance of trade. A WISH EXPRESSED It is assuredly time that a younger and more active administrator should succeed me in the office in which you have lor so long shown me so much kindness and forbearance, and I would beg you to consider how best to provide for a continuance of the good work in which we have hitherto so happily co-operated.