MR. MUGGINS WILL PAY

NZ Truth, Issue 1286, 31 July 1930, Page 9

MR. MUGGINS WILL PAY

New Tax Will Make His Pound Worth 16s. 7|d. . The Budget gave the racing authorities something to yell about, and newly-elected president of the conference, Os. Watkins, unloosed a column statement on the press.

PRIME MINISTER FORBES wants another two and a-half per cent, of tote returns and it is a good wager if he wants it he will get it, squeal or no squeal. The clubs, and the Conference president, are making appeals to the Prime. Minister to desist, but if there should be anybody asking that the tax not be inflicted it is the punter. It is this poor individual who will have to pay the extra slice, not the clubs, who will suffer indirectly, m that tote returns are sure to show a falling off. The new addition means that every pound that goes through the tote window will he worth only 16/7% oncejinside the joint. To take 3/4% out of each pound is, m the punter's opinion, out of all reason and mug though he may be at times, the question arises, "Will he stand for it?" The chances are he will refrain from slinging the best part "of 3/6 into the Government coffers each time he invests a "nicker," and down will sink the tote returns. President Watkins urges the Government to get the extra money needed m another fashion. He wants the law to allow for the wiring of money to the tote. If this were legalised the president thinks that the Government would get the money they now propose collecting from the extra tote taxation. Perhaps they would, but the odds

are that they would not. And Mr. Forbes knows it. The president is right m his contention that the new tax will drive more money into the hands of the bookmakers. It will. It will also drive more owners out of the game or out of the country, if they will stand for the Scullin primage duty. The simplest solution is for the reintroducing of the bookma"ker. To-day the fraternity handle a terrific volume of money that escapes the Government tax. What's wrong with having a piece of this? The reintroduction of the bookmaker would bring m big money m licence fees and then there could be a stiff tax on betting tickets. Of course the clubs would suffer as the tote Would not be m favor, but what the Government lost on the swings they would get back on the roundabouts. Some day there will arise a power m the racing world who will be courageous enough to preach the return of the bookmaker. One strong man and he will have an army of support, but at the present stage delegates to the conference will bet with bookmakers and then, with their tongues m their cheeks, get up and say what horrible people they are. i Should any big New Zealand bookmaker be thinking of retiring — an impossibility, of course — he could make another fortune if he were to publish the story his betting books could tell.