RACING TAXATION

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 55, 2 September 1927, Page 5

RACING TAXATION

FACING THE PACTS

. The subject of the taxation which racing clubs are required to pay to the Government was referred to at the annual meeting of the Waikato Eacing Club at Hamilton by Mr. A. E. Manning, who said he noticed that a sum of £7675 was entered in the balance-sheet as paid in taxation to the Government. To what extent, he asked, I'was the club actually affected by this? -

Mr.- E. H. - O'Meara, secretary, replied that 6H per cent, of the totalisator returns went to working expenses and IVz per cent.-to the. Government.

Mr. Manning said there was a great misconception abroad with regard to racing taxation, particularly as toMhe amount which racing clubs had been paying to the Government in the past. The tax was really paid by the public and not by the clubs. The Government had to raise a great amount of revenue, and surely it was up to the. racing community, if they wanted their sport, to pay for it. He considered, therefore, that reference to country clubs being in crying need of relief from the present high taxation might be omitted from future reports. As- a matter of fact, racing clubs were now paying m taxation very little more than they did before the war. Mr. G. Vercoe (president) said country clubs were paying the same percentage of taxation as metropolitan clubs. It did not matter whether the clubs or the people paid, it all came out of the pockets of the racing people. Mr. Manning: "Who would you put it on—the farmer?"

Mr. Vercoe: "If you go to races, you are

Mr. Manning: "Exactly. We go there with our eyes open." Mr. Vercoe: "Generally speaking, the f?"^ People of the Dominion are entlS^ -2 Borne reduction of taxation." . Mr. E. M: Masters: "But why the racS gor47 P^p P^ CUlar!y? They- are the fofour spor^' "Ye5' bUt We are *«* , Mf; Manning reiterated there was undoubtedly a misconception with regard to the taxation of clubs, and reference to re--kft^ gof ne repc od rt might ' theref°re ' Well be Mr'xv^To^ '1 agree with'you there." n,M \ Conradl said that taxation was paid on gate receipts and privileges, and thf,owners were also taxed. • pay. (Laughter and hear, hear.)