RACING CLUB’S TAXATION

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1933, Page 11

RACING CLUB’S TAXATION

RECENT PROPOSAL DISFAVOURED.

telegrams and doubles urged.

"Our thanks are due to Parliament for not passing the Gaming Amendment Bill, which sought to license bookmakers and betting shops,” said the acting-president (Mr. O. Nicholson) in his annual report to the Racing Conference yesterday. “The Racing Conference for many years has endeavoured to convince Parliament that, in order to stabilise the revenue the State derives from racing and at the same time afford clubs the additional revenue they so much require to operate effectively, the statutory provisions which prevent the telegraphing of remitting of investments on the totalisator through the post office and the operation of the double totalisator should be repealed. The enactment of such desirable legislation would also be a bodyblow. to the illegal bookmaker. “Naturally the Government, as well as .the conference and clubs, is vitally interested in the well-being of racing an d has been embarrassed by the de(cline in racing revenue that means so much to the State. It. has been my duty during the past, as well as in previous depression years, to approach the Government for some easing of the burden of taxation. The Government has at all times given me every opportunity of stating our case and very sympathetic consideration. We . must realise the difficulty in which the Government .is placed in times like these in agreeing

to any remission in rates of taxation unless it can be shown beyond doubt either that a decreased rate will in fact produce more revenue, or that the continuance of the high rate will imperil the existence of the source of revenue.

“In making racing clubs the concession of a refund of one per cent, on the totalisator duty, the Government has undoubtedly done something of material help to us, for which the thanks of the conference and clubs are due to it. I trust that the period of this concession will be extended. “It seems to me that unless there is a further serious decline in the revenue of clubs from the totalisator, indicating that the public can no longer bear the present rates of taxation, it will be hopeless to expect the Government to reduce those rates, unless it seizes the opportunity to which I have referred of exploiting other means of raising substantial additional racing revenue without taxation.

“The adoption of the win and place system of betting has been an rmqualified success.