RAISE REVENUE FROM RECREATIONS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15192, 12 April 1917, Page 6

RAISE REVENUE FROM RECREATIONS.

TO THE KDITOH. Sir,—All good people are willing to pay for their day at the sports or on the racecourse. Some people, at all timers, have objections to make, without proper reason, to various institutions of recreation, except where or when the occasion benefit* them personally or incidentally. Many writings lately in the daily papers, on the pre* and cons re racing during war time, are quite unreasonable, because the almighty dollar, which rules the doing* of the people in the world, governs the occasion—therefore pocket sentiment and at the same time a good percentage. So that whichever way the frog jumps it lands somewhere. It is quite simple how to fix it. Let Sir George Clifford petition the Government to pass a emporary enactment necessitating the stamping of all sports, show, and racegate and totalisator tickets with a special Government mark signifying a war tax. On race-gate tickets let the tax be, say, 3d for outside, 5s on members' tickets, and 2s 6d ou all complimentary tickcte; the tax to be collected at the £abe. Let totalisator investments hear a 3d tax on each .£1 invented, the dividends to be further taxed to the extent of 10 per cent, on first dividends and 5 per cent, on second dividends. The clubs will not be materially inconvenienced by the extra calculation necessary, the public will not feel the extra percentage deducted, and everyone concerned will Ik: satisfied that he or she is doing a bit towards a good end and having an outing at the same time. These same taxpayers should be graciously thankful that they have not been paying this tax for the past three years, during which a couple »f million pounds might readilv have been raised. Of the taxes above mentioned could be subject to modification or extension. —I am, etc., AS AN ALTERNATIVE.