TOTALISATOR TAX

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 35, 9 August 1930, Page 11

TOTALISATOR TAX

CLUB'S CONDEMNATION

RACING A CHOPPING-BLOCK

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) I HASTINGS, Bth August. ■ A general condemnation of the totalisator tax was voiced at the 'annual meeting of the Hawkos Bay Jockey Club to-day. The president, Mr. T. H. Lowry, said that the proposal to increase the totalisator tax by 2* per cent, had come as a bombshell to the clubs. It reminded him of the tax organised by Sir Hobert Peel in England in 1818 called the window tax. That was en-j forced as a last resort, and when collectors came round to get the tax they found the windows closed lip.

It looked as though some of the clubs might have to close up if the present tax were increased, he said. Mr. Massey had led them to understand that the original tax was due to the necessity of obtaining additional re venue during the war, and owing to war expenses it had accumulated. He thought the Prime Minister had over run his object with this taxation.

Mr. H. A. Russell said that on the year's operations the Government had made £247 more than the Hawkes Bay club. In the first instance the tax had been put on to help racing, but now its principal purpose was to help the Government. If the same amount went through the totalisator next year as last, then the Government with the increased tax would net a further £2804. It would thus seem as though racing was to be run mainly for the benefit of the Government. The effect would be to drive business into the hands of the bookmakers.

Mr. J. S. M'Leod believed that something would have to be done to impress the gravity of the position on responsible politicians. Every party that came into power seemed to think that rning clubs were to be made chopping blocks of taxation schemes. Mr. Massey had given them to understand that the tax would bo repealed after the war, but instead of that it had been increased A great many owners were now seri ously considering whether racing paid. Tt had come to this: that neither they nor the clubs were getting fair treatment. For himself, if he could, he would soil his horses to-morrow. Outside Sir George Hunter's Bill nothing had been even , attempted to help racing. Very few clubs had had a prosperous year. The Government gave them no consider ation whatever, but. merely seemed desirous of thrashing the last grain of corn out of them.