TAXING THE TOTALISATOR.

Evening Star, Issue 7613, 16 May 1888, Page 4

TAXING THE TOTALISATOR.

TO THE EDITOR. Sin,—l see that there is a project on foot, and which is apparently well received by many, that the Government should add to their revenue by taxing the totalisator. Sir, I would beg most emphatically to protest against our people being made partners in the vice of gambling, and the cegis of Government protection being thrown over this prolific source of evil. We know too well how much harder it is to fight the nefarious drink trufiic because of the amount raised from it for revenue purposes, and if ever our Government should so far forget their true duty to the people as to participate in the profits of gamblers our hope of ever successfully contending with the evil of gambling will be so much less. Let them take the courageous and wise course of prohibiting the totalisator entirely, and the money now wasted will be turned into remunerative channels, which will indirectly benefit the revenue far more than the other course, and at the same time help to bring about a more healthy state of morals in our community. What Lord Chesterfield said a century ago is as true as ever to-day: “ Luxury, my lords, is to be taxed, but vice is to be prohibited. Government should not, for revenue, mortgage the morals and health of the people.”—! am, etc,, Liuut. Dunedin, May 14.