WAR TAXATION AND MR. SKERRETT'S PROTEST

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 125, 28 May 1915, Page 10

WAR TAXATION AND MR. SKERRETT'S PROTEST

TO TUB EDITOR. Sir, — The specious arguments of Mr. C. P. Skerrett in reference to tho above, which appeared recently in the Evening Post, only shows thatthat gentleman haß a very weak case. Like some other well- j knpwn men who have voiced their opinions on the same subject, Mr. Skerretfc would like the war taxation to be spread so that those who 'cannot afford to pay would be made to contribute with those who can. Now, Sir, I -would just like to ask Mr. Skerrett if he knows that during (he Boer War Lord Kitchener only _ allowed racing to be conducted on \ condition that every shilling of profit was \ donatCifc-tCL.ch.Mfties, aad'here-ts~thfttf>p-

portunity for our racing clubs. Let them ' show that they realise that the success of their clubs iB not, greater than the necessity for success of the British arms, and let them, from now on, give no stake of greater value than £500, and let them donate every shilling of surplus to a national fund for those who are giving their lives to save the British Empire from being strangled. It is no answer to say that the big clubs have given freely. Money spent on racing is, or rather should be, surplus money, and to no better cause than the above could it be allocated. I can hear vested interests saying grandstands have been tendered for, loans have been raised, but my reply is that all their claims are as nothing compared with this one fact : " That the men and women who can find the time, money, and heart to go racing at a time when thousands of our best young lives are being sacrificed in this bloody war, sliould bo only too pleased to see a huge fund created for -the benefit of the disabled, and dependents of the killed." One w°rd more; Mr Skerrett stated that racing in New Zealand was caried on by gentlemen who gave their time and labour without one penny remuneration. _ May I point out that there are many highly-rjaid officials connected with clubs, and rightly so, and also if Mr. Skerrett turns up the Turf Guide he will see that the gentlemen who without pay constitute the executives of the racing clubs in New Zealand have won for many years all the classic races, and at the same time nearly all the prize money. This being the case, as they are all j wealthy and do not require even the indirect return, the scheme I have propounded should meet with their prompt approval, because it entails no real sacrifice. — I am, etc., ! GORDON DOUGLAS. 22nd May, 1915.