"A BOMBSHELL"

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 187, 9 August 1930, Page 17

"A BOMBSHELL"

INCREASED TAXATION.

UNFAVOURABLE RECEPTION,

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

HASTINGS, Friday.

Condemnation of the proposal to increase the totalisator tax was voiced at the annual meeting of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club to-day. The president, Mr. T. H. Lowry, said the proposal had come as a bombshell to the clubs. It reminded him of the tax organised by Sir Robert Peel in England last century and called the window tax. It was enforced as a last resort, and when the collectors went round to get the tax they found the windows closed. It looked as though some of the racing clubs might have to close if the present tax was increased.

Mr. Lowry said Mr. Massey had led them to understand that the Original tax was due to the necessity of obtaining additional revenue during the war. Owing to war expenses it had accumulated. He thought the Prime Minister had overrun his object with this taxation.

Mr. H. A. Russell said that on the year's operations the Government had made £247 more than the Hawke's Bay Club. In the first instance, the tax had been put on to help racing, but now its principal purpose was to help the Government. If the same amount as last year went through the totalisator next year, then the Government, with the increased tax, would secure a further £2804. It would thus seem as though racing was to be run mainly for the benefit of the Government. The effect would be to drive business into the hands of the bookmakers.

Mr. J. S. McLeod said he believed something would have to be done to impress the gravity of the position on responsible politicians. Every party that came into power seemed to think that the racing clubs were to be made chopping blocks of taxation schemes. A great many owners were now seriously considering whether racing paid. Neither they nor the clubs were getting fantreatment. For himself, he would, if he could, sell his horses to-morrow.

Outside Sir George Hunter's bill nothing had been even attempted to Help racing. Very few clubs had a prosperous year. The Government gave them no consideration Avhatever, but merely seemed desirous of threshing the last grain of corn out of them.