"TOTE" IN BRITAIN

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 85, 13 April 1929, Page 23

"TOTE" IN BRITAIN

NEW ZEALAND'S EXPERIENCE

(From "The . Post's" Riprtsintativt.) LONDON, 28th February.

Much capital (says the racing correspondent of "The Times") has been made at one .time and\anothcr out of the state of racing' in New Zealand, which, it has been alleged, is being destroyed By the totalisator. 'There is no doubt that the Government of New Zealand does take too much out of racing in that: country. Last year the Government took £133,333 from the totalisator by means of a 2J.,per cent, tax on turnover. It also took £239,966 by means of a 5 per • cent, tax on totalisator dividends, £20,199 by means of a-tax on racing stakes, and £13,163 by means of the entertainment tax.. These .and other impositions brought the sum paid to the. Government up to £410,670.

•In referring to these figures, Sir George Clifford, the chairmaii of the annual conference of New Zealand Racing Clubs, stated that use had been made 1 in England by the opponents of the tot'alisatof of certain comments that they had made upon the unjust exactions of the Government, as if they might be construed into hostility of the totalisator system. Sir George added:—

"On the contrary, it cannot be too clearly emphasised that we attribute the satisfactory condition of the Turf in. New.Zealand,to the continued opera.llon' of the totalisator system in contrast to the many abuses where the bookmaker controls the only method .of speculation... So far from having.any .sympathy with tho bookmakers pro.viding.any advantage in the conduct of pure racing, 'we'appeal to the Government to refrain from permitting ;the telegraph offices to be used for the already illegalised business of bookmaking.

During tho (last season £5,441,044 passed . through the totalisator. With 11. days' .racing . tho Auckland Club handled . £911,605; Canterbury (10 days), £448,381; ana ■Wellington (10 days), £556,867. The value of the stakes distributed was £405,594. During last season under Jockey Club rules in England the value of tho stakes distributed .was £744,511. .