COUNTRY RACING CLUBS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2514, 15 July 1915, Page 7

COUNTRY RACING CLUBS

TAXATION ON GHOSS TAKINGS.

A deputation from the country racing clubs waited upon' the Minister of Itailways (the Hon, W., If. Hcrries) yesterday, in placo of tlio Prinio Minister.- The deputation was introduced by Mr. J. Colvin, H.P., and. Mr. T. W. Rhodes, M.P. Mr. A., Bruce, president of the Country Racing Clubs' Association, said that they desired to protest against the high taxation on country racing clubs. Since tho gilt of the battleship New Zealand these taxes had gone up considerably, and they objected particularly to tho special taxation of per cent, on gross takings at tho meetings, excluding totalisator takings, irrespective of whether tho clubs juado a profit or not. They mado no objection to the 21 per cent, tax on tho totalisator-, but they did object to the tax on their gross takings. The higher tho taxation was tho lower they had to mako the stakes, and this led to a lowering in tho standard of tho horses. The clubs finite agreed that this was a bad timo to inako an application for a reduction of taxation but they thought tbay shoukl bring the matter under the Goverumont'a .notice,, especially, as they heard there wm

the likelihood of increased taxation. They asked, in conclusion, th it tho tax should only bo on their profits; and not their gross takings. . Mr. R. Wynyard, secretary Takapuna Racing Club, said that at present the' Government received from .£120,000 to .£130,000' out of tho total'sator. He had been asked to request that the tax,.apart from'this, should be on tho net. profit of a club at the end of the year. Mr. Brnco said that there had been'a large increase in the amount received by the Government. Five years ago the tax came to .020,000, and last year it had increased to j list under #108,000. : In Teply, Mr. Herries said that he' had taken a. deop interest-in country racing clubs, and he agreed that they should be oncouraged. The country was indobted to. the generous. way in which racing clubs had. placed their courses at the disposal .of the Defence Department, arid they had also contributed largely to the patriotic funds. He would have much pleasure in placing the views of the deputation before his colleagues, and whatever was done he hoped it would be satisfactory to the Tacing clubs. :