RUGBY LEAGUE GAMES

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26393, 11 April 1951, Page 3

RUGBY LEAGUE GAMES

MATCHES AGAINST OVERSEAS TEAMS AMUSEMENT TAX TO BE PAID (New Zealand Fr#ss Association; AUCKLAND, April 10. Because of the reimbursement of its players lor wages lost while playing i tootball against overseas teams, Rugby League is not eligible for, freedom from amusement tax on matches played between New Zealand and such teams. A reply to this effect was given to the council of the New Zealand League by the Minister of Stamp Duties (Mr W. H. Fortune). In a series of letters dating back more than a year the league had complained of discrimination against the game because of the refusal of me department to grant relief from amusement tax on matches played by the Australian team in New Zealand in 1949. Australian League players are regarded as amateurs in Australia.. Freedom cpuld not be granted, Mr Fortune said, because the league reimbursed its own players for wages lost through their playing football. A special exemption granted the league last year only covered games between teams made up of New Zealand residents.

In the specific cases of other' sports quoted by the league no New Zealand player received epy monetary consideration and no portion of the proceeds of the games in New Zealand was applicable, other than to the travelling expenses of the visiting players. These games were therefore exempt from amusement tax. players of other sports received pecuniary consideration by way o out-of-pocket, expenses. “The discrimination against us is en tirely wrong,” said the nresident (M J. A. Redwood), Qn his suggestion it was decided to submit further information to the department in an attempt to secure relief from the tax.