“BOOKIES” TAXED BY DEPARTMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19119, 11 July 1930, Page 7

“BOOKIES” TAXED BY DEPARTMENT.

OFFICIAL RELATES HOW REVENUE IS SECURED. (Special to the “ Star.”) WELLINGTON, July 11. “ We often meet difficulties in taxing illegal businesses,” said Mr Dowland, Deputy Commissioner of Taxes, when speaking at a meeting of the Wellington Accountant Students’ Association last evening. For instance, he said, it was seldom that a bookmaker came along and said, “ I am a bookmaker and want to be taxed on my income.” However, when a bookmaker was fined in court it usually was not long before an Income Tax officer paid him a visit. “ I would like to say,” Mr Dowland continued. “ that in all dealings I have had with bookmakers I have found them to be absolutely straight in their dealings with the Department.” A bookmaker was allowed a deduction of fines when the income tax was assessed. lie could not be treated in the same way as legal businesses that paid penalties for late returns. “ I don’t want you to imagine that we are hand in glove with the bookmakers,” Mr Dowland smilingly added, “ though all the same I have seen some interesting names on their books ”