TROTTING PARLIAMENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 710, 9 July 1929, Page 15

TROTTING PARLIAMENT

SESSION OPENED AT WELLINGTON PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS

(Special to THE SUN) WELLINGTON, Today. IN opening the annual meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Conference this morning the president, Mr. H. F. Nicoll, referred to the loss suffered by the sport by the passing during the year of such stalwarts as Sir Charles Skerrett, Jv.C.M.G., K.C., Messrs. W. IT. Denton, W. IT. Norton and 11. Brinkman.

HPHE latter, whose connection with

trotting as a handicapper dates back as far as many of us can remember, said Mr. Nicoll. was one of those men whom it is really difficult to replace. He was of unblemished integrity, calm judgment, with a shrewd insight into form. Records Established Three world’s records were established during the season at Addington, continued the chairman. Native Chief paced a mile in saddle in 2.7 1-5, Peter Bingen tramped ten furlongs in 2.38 4-5, and Peterwah trotted two miles in 4.23 4-5, world’s race records, and these performances prove the high estate to which New Zealand trotting is climbing. After paying tribute to the constant supervision of racecourse inspectors, which was in a great measure responsible for the well-regulated order at race meetings, and referring in terms of high appreciation to the work ,of the New Zealand Sports’ Protection League, the president proceeded to deal with the vexed question of taxation. T axation “One does not wish to belabour this subject unduly, yet it is impossible for this conference to meet without stressing the necessity for some relief in taxation,” said Mr. Nicoll. “Many of our clubs are severely troubled over finance, and, so far, not having succeeded in being able to obtain the al-

lowance in Government taxation to which we believe they are entitled, they have been forced to reduce stakes in an endeavour to pay their way. This supposed remedy, however, has in -nearly every caso only increased the burden, resulting as it does in a decline in the support of owners and trainers, and in a loss of interest by the public. It is difficult to understand why some fair rebate is not granted. The revenue received by the Government from racing, trotting and hunt clubs, free of all costs for collection, is so substantial, amounting to £580,511 last year, that to the business mind one would expect that such a source of steadily flowing income would be sympathetically dealt with and encour-

aged rather than be treated with the phlegmatic disregard experienced in the past. There is reason to believe that under the regime of the new Parliament, and with the support of the energetic and capable Minister of Internal Affairs, the cry of the country clubs will bo heard, and that more consideration will be given to their needs. Legislative Restrictions It is sincerely hoped that the new Parliament will remove the ban on the publication of dividends; this, and the law which prevents clubs from accepting investments from beyond the course, are restrictions upon sport which have entirely failed to attain the objects desired by Parliament when they were passed. The subject is so well known and understood, both by the conference and by the Government, that it is unnecessary to do more than mention the subject, and in looking for the removal of these restrictions we are only, asking for the right to the full use of public facilities in the same manner as they are used by every other section of the community. The Ruling Body “With reference to a remit on the Order Paper today by the New Brighton Trotting Club concerning the right of appeal to the courts, there appears to be among us one or two who do not understand that self-depreciation is both a sign of weakness and a means to weakness. It impairs confidence among ourselves and also among the people; it diminishes our good repute and our energy. The worst enemy of our success and progress is the man who complains about difficulties, and, instead of relying upon those who have been placed in charge of the government of the sport, seeks outside aid to uphold him in this theories. This conference is the ruling body of trotting, and, if at any period it should lose the confidence of those directly interested, then the sport must deteriorate and lose that respect it at present commands. There has been no sport more progressive or more successful than our sport of trotting, and this success would never have been attained had it not been for the high standard set by our forbears, whose tradition we endeavour to carry on in this generation, under the supervision of the controlling body of the sport—the New Zealand Trotting Association—and by the governing body—the New Zealand Trotting Conference. Conclusion “The past year’s sport has been one upon which we may look back with much satisfaction, and we can note that the steady advance in popularity has been well maintained, and that the conduct of the race meetings has been almost invariably of an exceptionally high standard. The love of sport is born, not made, and it is historically correct that the British people throughout the world are a race of sportsmen. The sporting character never knows defeat, and, notwithstanding 1 the shrewdest blows, surges forward to ultimate victory, against all odds. We demonstrate upon our racecourses the spirit of the realm of which we are a sector, stimulating fair play, loyalty, self-control, and submission to authority, and we can deem that we and those working with us, are assisting in our small way, to uphold the privileges for which our Empire stands.”