THE TOTALISATOR TAX

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17958, 9 December 1932, Page 5

THE TOTALISATOR TAX

REBATE EXTENDED STRONG LABOR PROTEST CONCESSION OF £40,000 (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this clay. Notwithstanding vigorous protests by Opposition members, the House this morning, by 35 votes to 23. appioved of the Finance Bill provision for the extension for another 12 months of 1 per cent, rebate to racing clubs, which, according to the Ministerial explanation, was equivalent to £40,000. Appeals were made by Mr. H. I, Armstrong (Christchurch E.), Mr. F. Langstone (Waimarino) and other Labor speakers for the abandonment of the proposal if for nu other reason than that the Government had declared that it had insufficient funds to restore pensions cuts and the grant to kindergartens. Amazement was expressed by Mr. Annstrong that racing clubs should have what'ho termed a pull on the Government, but Mr. «f. A. Lee (Lab., Grey Lynn) said that even if women and children were starving horses must have their rations and oats. The totalisator was termed by Mr. Armstrong as the greatest shearing machine in the world. Mr. P. Fraser (Lab., Wellington C.): You all like, to be shorn. Mr. Armstrong: As it operates to-day there is no other instrument which is a more scientific robber of the sheep. lie challenged any_member of the Govern merit to defend the rebate. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates: Yes, 1 can. Every word of it. Speaking from memory, Mr. Coates said the losses of racing clubs last year were £76,000, and the gains £SOOO. Only about three clubs were able to pay their way. HEAVY PAST TAXATION Mr. Armstrong: Who else is paying liis way? Mr. Lee: The Government can’t balance its Budget, Mr. Coates: It only reflects the times we are passing through. Mr R. Semple (Lab., Wellington E.) : Why should you come to the rescue of these people only? Mr. Coates said the State had regarded racing revenue as a nest egg, and had depended upon those funds for distribution to many deserving cases. In peak years, taxation amounted to upwards of £750,000, but in 1931 it was down to £500,000, and this year it was lower still. Those were sources of revenue which were fast disappearing, and the State had to take steps to conserve them. The question of whether there should be races or not was a matter of opinion.

“1 think we should have races,” he said.

Mr. Semple : It’s a luxury.

Mr. Coates: It’s a good old British luxury, and is part and parcel of men’s existence, and it’s a poor heart that never rejoices. There is no better sport. If it is in your blood you can’t get it out, and it’s inseparable from tho make-up of most people.”

On the division, Messrs. T. D. Burnett, A. J. Stallwol’thy and R. A. Wright voted with tho Labor Party.