“THE SPORT OF KINGS”

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10950, 12 July 1921, Page 5

“THE SPORT OF KINGS”

WHAT THE “PRiHCES" PAY 31K SHALLCRASS PRESENTS OTH- - ER SIDE OF PICTURE. “ANTI-SPORTS” ESCAPING. "When the isuggestion of a further tax on racing stakes, mad© in the “Time©” yesterday, was placed before Mr R. W. Shallcrass, general secretary of the Now Zealand Sports Protection League, he explained that the imposition of the on© per cent, levy was the outcome of on arrangement between the owners and the Income Tax Department. Instead of owners -having to render ,a return of all the ramifications of their racing stables, it was agreed that all receipt® and expenditure under this heading should be excluded from income returns, and a one per cent, tax on all stakes was made in lieu thereof. “The comparison with the tax paid by tho farmer and the business man rs, of course, absurd,” sjtid Mr Shallorass. “They are taxed only ”on their net incomes; business expense© .and cost ,of production axe deducted. The stakes aire the gross inoomd of the owners, and if the legitimate expenses incurred are deducted, it would probably be found that instead of the State receiving taxation to the amount of about £6OOO per annum, it would probably get nil. 1 ’ Mi' Shallcrass further stated that the suggestion (if it were seriously made! was most unfair. Those associated with, and the patrons of racing and trotting, already contribute more than half a million a year in direct and distinctive forms of taxation, which other sections of the community escape, and this is in addition to what they pay through the ordinary systems by which the State secures its revenue. It would appear to any upbiassed person, be said, that, in comparison, the close-fisted, hard-living anti-sport, is not doing his share towards providing the means for our expensive systems of Government. Perhaps someone can .suggest how he can be made to contribute his fair share. The willing horse ’is already carrying too much weight.