TOTALISATOR TAXATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3619, 24 July 1923, Page 58

TOTALISATOR TAXATION.

OAMARU CLUB’S PROTEST? OAMARU, July 20. The following resolution has been framed by the Oamaru Jockey Club and ordered to be sent to the Government, members of Parliament, and all the country racing clubs in the dominion: —“That this club takes strong /exception to the proposals made by the chairman of the Racing Conference (Sir George Clifford) for a reduction in the taxation on stakes and dividends as a means of relief to clubs, as these proposals would not relieve the financial position of the clubs in any way; and that this club strongly recommends that a reduction be made in the totalisator and amusement taxes, as these fall directly upon the clubs and are solely responsible for the financial difficulties in which so many country clubs find themselves to-day. From the point of view of the Treasury the removal of the totalisator and amusement taxes, which totalled .8153,325 last season, would not affect the revenue of the country to nearly the same extent as the removal of the dividends and stakes’ taxes, which totalled £290,116. In the event of the Government not being prepared to forgo the whole of the totalisator and amusement tax, this club recommends that a graduated tax be im posed upon the clubs whereby the first £25,000 invested on the totalisator should be exempt from the totalisator tax.

In New Zealand it is estimated that there is one motor-car for exactly 43 inhabitants. This is a higher ratio than in almost any country of the world except the United States and Canada.