BETTING TAX.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19918, 3 May 1930, Page 16

BETTING TAX.

MR POLSON DEFENDS HIS PROPOSAL.

Itatßlkt. TO THE mass.)

OAMABU, May 2.

Speaking on the criticism levelled At him about the proposal to increase the tax on totalisator investments, Mr W. J. Poison, in an address here tonight, said it had been suggested that he should go back to Stratford, but he wanted to deal with the matter more fully, because he wanted to justify his attitude on the,proposal. He was putting forward something in favour Of the racing man, notto his detriment, and the criticism wits the result of possibly a misunderstanding. He proposed to increase the totalisator tax five per cent., and if they put on another 5 per cent, the clubs would collect their share, and the public would pay it. The man who gambled would get lets from his investment. He proposed to strike a bargain with the clubs which were not at present getting all the investments because of bookmakers. He wpuld remove the embargo on telegraphing totalisator investments, and let the clubs get them above board, instead of driving them into the hands of the bookmaker!. This would increase the telegraph revenue, and he thought would more than recoup the clubs. He said that as one opEosed to gambling, it was very much etter to have a cash bettor than a man who betted with the bookmaker., It would increase, the totalisator receipts, but gambling would not increase by the same amoflnt as betting with bookmakers would be diverted.