TOTALISATOR TAX

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 36, 11 August 1930, Page 8

TOTALISATOR TAX

(To the Editor,) Sir,—Arc the present taxes on _ totaiisators adequate, taking into consideration the Government's need for extra revenue? I am hi no way attacking the principles o£ racing—for I truly believe that -racing is as good a sport as any—so long as the evil spirit of gambling does not enter into the sport. It is found (on referring to the New Zealand Year Book, 1930) that the State's taxation receipts for the past financial year is composed, in the main, from the following sources, the percentages of tax collected being given for comparison i**~ Customs and Excise, 48 per cent; kand tax, 6 per cent.; income tax, 19 per cent.; death duties, Jl per cent,; totalieator tax, 3 per cent.; miscellaneous, 13 per cent. Now, Sir, surely this is an exceedingly small percentage of tax payable by_sueh au expensive and wealthy sport? When race-goers can afford to pay XOa, £1, £2, or more for entrance to tlio course and seating accommodation, and also make extensivQ "bets" on variola uncertainties, should they wot have to pay a heavy "amusement-tax" (used m the widest sense) ? The present taxes payable by the racing clubs are, in my opinion, tairly small compared with the revenue derived therefrom, , ~ I believe that there is tax payable on. the gross takings of the totafetor ot 2 1/* per cent.—subject to a certain exemption up to £250 if any money is spent in improvements to the stands and grounds during that past financial year. A tax ou stakes of 5 per cent, and of dividends 5 per cent. is still levied (I quote from the Year Book). The total totalisator revenue from these taxes amounts, on an average of the past three yews, to approximately £ 56a,----000 per annum, The revenue derived from amusement tax alone is decreasing every year, and i« now in the vicinity of £70,Q0Q per annum— nearly one-eighth of the revenue which the "tote" brings in. The comparison is, however, practically useless, for a taxpayer who goes to amusements (pictures, football matches, shows, etc), rarely pays more than 3s, even for one ot tbe best seats. The racegoer, on tbe other hand, spendb at least 80s, often more. Nevertheless, the comparison, and indeed, the whole question, should be considered. —I am, etc., , COMPOS MENTIS. "