RACING TAXATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24747, 22 November 1943, Page 2

RACING TAXATION

IYIELD TO THE STATE

PATRIOTIC LEVY , PROPOSAL A proposal was made recently to the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council that money required for patriotic purposes should be raised by additional taxation of o per tent on totalisator receipts. As far as is known, no official backing for the scheme has come from any other provincial or metropolitan body controlling patriotic activities and racing officials are decidedly critical of it. It is pointed out that the amount at present deducted from investments, approximately 17i per cent, reduces dividends by about one-sixth, and the suggested extra impost would reduce them by more than one-fifth. In the 1940-41 season, with 30S days, the totalisator turnover from hotli racing and trotting was £8,769,917. This yielded in taxes £1,534,750, or £4983 a day. For the 214 days of the 194142 season, the investments aggregated £7,224,203. producing £1,264,235, or £5908 a day. while in the 1942-43 season, with 160 days, £8.567,790 was put through the machine, yielding £1.499,400, or £9371 a day, in taxation. LOCAL AND GENEEAL Army's Summer Uniform An increasing number of New Zealand soldiers are to be seen wearing the new summer uniform which is being, issued to permanently-mobilised troops. The uniform consists of drill trousers and long-sleeved shirt, the latter with a turn-down collar, from which a khaki tie is worn.

"Stir-Up Sunday" A reminder of the rapid approach of the Christmas festival was given in ecclesiastical churches yesterday, when the collect, epistle and gospel for the Sunday next Advent were read. These closed the "long season of Trinity, which is also the end of the ecclesiastical year. From the opening words of the collect, the Sunday is known colloquially as "Stir-Up Sunday." A Five-Day Week

At a meeting organised_ by the Otago Shop Assistants' union it was unanimously decided to support the campaign for a 40-hour five-day week. A resolution calling upon the executives of the Shop Assistants' Federation and the Federation of Labour to send a deputation to the Government to ask for the introduction of the necessary amending legislation was also. carried. Approximately 900 persons were present. Rescue From Water

A small girl who fell from a ferry at the wharf at Matiatia, Waiheke Island, shortly before 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon was saved through the prompt action of two American servicemen. She fell from the lower deck railing of the boat a few minutes before it was due to leave for the city and waa able to keep her head above water until the two men leaned down from the deck level and hauled her on board, little the worse for her experience.

Several Minor Fires Machines from suburban fire stations were called out on Saturdav at about 5 p.m., when two power poles, one at each end of the Parnell railway tunnel, caught fire within a few minutes of each other. The fires were presumably started by sparks from a passing engine. They were quickly extinguished and little damage was done. Calls were answered to three minor gorse and rubbish fires in the Avondale district m the early part of Saturday afternoon. There was no damage.

Licensing Poll The latest available figures on the recent licensing poll were presented at the Auckland conference of the New Zealand Alliance on Saturdav by the secretary, Mr. L. E, Falkner. With a few more votes to come, the secretary, said, the vote for continuance was 528,040, a decrease of 18.955 since 1938. Other figures were: State purchase and control, 123,388, an increase 0f. 27,257 votes; and national prohibition, 269,615, an increase of 6407. With a more complete organisation, he said, the vote for abolition of the liqu° r traffic could have been greatly increased.

Tree Surgery How tree surgery saves and lengthens the life of trees was explained to members of the Christchurch City Council by Mr. R. Miller when they made their annual inspection of reserves. Miller is at present "operating" 011 the chestnut trees in Bealey Avenue. Nearly every tree in the avenue sun?'* 3 from some form of internal rotting, and all the infested wood is cut out with chisels and gouges and the holes filled up. Some, of the cavities extend for some distance inside the o the trees.' Where the external opening is large it has. been necessary to put & concrete facing on to prevent children from picking the fillings out.