TAX ON CLUBS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 50, 27 August 1930, Page 6

TAX ON CLUBS

PUBLIC BEING EXPLOITED

I (By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.")

DUNEDIN, This Day

Although the past year was a. gratifying success, the Forbury Park Trotting Club faces the current season with lowered confidence. It is iioav certain that hopes of increasing the stake money will not bo realised, and reduction in stakes might bo necessary if the club is. to. safeguard its own interests! The darkening of the outlook has been brought about by the current, depression throughout the Dominion and by,'the,threatened imposition of further taxation on sport. \

- The president (Mr. B. S. Irwin), in his address at'; the. .annual, meeting of the clubj said:' "Racing and trotting • clubs are being bled far'too much, and I think it is! the duty of committees of every club to do their utmost to. protect the public from being exploited. The Government's answer to agitations against 'the proposed tax is that the taxation: will come from the public. After all, clubs are only representatives of the public. . If the public does not support the club, it must go back, and, the ultimate, result will probably be a decrease in the turnover on the totalisator ■ directly affecting the club, and in the end the Government through the amounts derived from clubs. ' Strong representations have been made to the Government, however,, and we are not certain that the increased tax will be imposed, but the Government persists that it will be.' Unless some strong action is brought to bear, of course, the tax will bo imposed."

The club's balance-sheet showed it had enjoyed, a remarkable year from the financial as well as from the racing point of view. The profits for the year amounted to £1517, and £1061 had been set aside for depreciation, compared with £131 last year, co that the year's profits amounted practically to £2500. .