BURDEN OF TAXATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20303, 10 July 1929, Page 9

BURDEN OF TAXATION.

TROTTING CLUBS' COMPLAINT

NECESSITY FOR SOME RELIEF.

[nv TELEGBAriI. —OWN fOnnESI'ftNPENT.] W ELLI NOT ON. Tuesday.

The necessity for sonic relief in taxation was emphasised by Mr. H. I'. Nicofl in his presidential address at the annual meeting of the Now Zealand Trotting Conference to-dav.

"Many of our clubs are severely troubled over finance," said Mr. Nicoll, and, so far, not having succeeded in being ablo to obtain the allowance in Government taxation to which we believe they arc entitled, they have been forced to reduce stakes in the endeavour to pay ilieir way. This supposed remedy, however, has in nearly every case only increased the burden, resulting as it does in a decline in the support of owners and trainers, and in a loss of interest by the public. It is ditlicult to understand why some fair rebate is not granted. "The revenue received by the Government from racing, trotting and hunt clubs, free of all costs for collection, is so substantial, amounting to £586,511 last year, that to the business mind one would expect that such a source of steadily flowing income would bo sympathetically dealt with and encouraged, rather than to be treated with the phlegmatic disregard experienced in tho past. Ihcrc is reason to believe that under (ho lcgimo of tho now Parliament, and with tho support of the Minister of Internal Affairs, the cry of tho country clubs will bo heard, and that more consideration will be given to their needs.

"The racing public are not politicians or supporters of any particular party, yet it must naturally follow that they will look with favour upon the party who aids tlieni in their proper progress. We see, and welcome, on our racecourses members of Parliament of all three political parties, and is it not up to thoso who enjoy our sport to do their part in assisting us with that legislation which the racing, trotting and hunt clubs have decided is necessary in order that we may be able Lli carry on satisfactorily?"