RACING TAXATION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 38, 24 November 1937, Page 2

RACING TAXATION.

ADVOCACY OF REDUCTION. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, November 23. During the second reading debate on the Finance Bill in the House of Representatives to-day, Air W. J. Broadfoot (National, Waitoriio) appealed for a reduction of the taxation being imposed on racing clubs. The Government in a time of prosperity like the present could give relief to these clubs to enable them to increase their stakes and make other necessary improvements. He instanced the fact that many of the big racehorse owners were taking their horses to Australia to take advantage of the better stakes offering there. Why not give the clubs relief for only one year, he asked. He criticised the present system of granting relief in eases of hardship, which, he said, was liable to lead to patronage by Ministers. He thought they were exacting a. too-heavy toll from people who did bet on horses. Personally he did not believe in betting, which appeared stupid to him, but it seemed to be ingrained in the British people. There could be a direct reduction in taxation if the problem were tackled correctly and the I large amount of illicit betting going lon to-day were brought within the proper taxation channels.