TOTALISATOR TAX.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 53, 30 July 1891, Page 8

TOTALISATOR TAX.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—The contemplated tax of per cent, announced by a Liberal Government forcibly reminds me of the action of Robinson, the gaol-bird, in u My Schools and Schoolmasters, by Hugh Millar. He broke the face of the registering machine because it told his gaoler how often the crank was turned and whether he was scheming The Government seem half inclined to degrade themselves to practice the part played by the prisoner by imposing a tax on the most truthfufand trustworthy agent connected with racing, crippling its action with a tax, and driving the public to bookmakers and consultation agents, while the truth-telling, honest, upright machine bears a hated tax to make it odious. For every £1 invested it rings a bell, registers the fact, and is beheld by all beholders. Even a horse-owner, trainer, or jockey cannot quiet it. While he takes tickets on his favourite it rings out merrily whether he puts on one, five, or a tenner, and anyone can follow him. This is fair to the public compared with private betting, and should be more allowable. The public pay 10 per cent, already to those who run the show, and it would be very unreasonable to increase that amount, seeing .that they have to pay a big sum for a day’s fun to get admittance to it. Again, a great deal of the money is re-invested, and thus the public get a second, third, aye fourth and an eighth chance to win back their money. The 10 per cent, also goes in stakes and keeps the ball rolling. Should the Government impose a tax they should send a sporting character to collect it, and when he took his share in the maiden race he might win largely on the others. If any imposition be made this should be a paramount condition, and as the Premier wants out of the machine, it would appear to be the fairest way of raising it. It at any rate would shield them from the charge likely to be levelled at them should they grab the money off the machine and close their fist on all the clear gain on a gambling transaction. Such a thing would be without a “ Balance.”— I am, etc., No. One, One.