TOTALISATOR TAXATION

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 60, 4 December 1926, Page 8

TOTALISATOR TAXATION

DECREASE URGED On November 22 last the New Zealand Sports Protection League wrote to the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, Minister of Finance, stating that the league had on several occasions represented to the Government that the excessive rate of taxation imposed on totalisator investments and dividends was having the effect of crippling clubs, encouraging illegal betting, and causing a steady decrease in the State revenue, and instanced the results of the Christchurch spring carnival (details of which were published recently), in support of its case. It was pointed out that investments had steadily decreased since 1921, when the dividend tax was increased from fid. to Is., and other increases imposed. Racing and trotting clubs, it was stated, provided the easiest of all means of collecting State revenue; but it was necessary for the Government to give them more encouragement than they were receiving at present if they were to continue to be such excellent tax collectors.

It was also clear, said the league, that the present restrictive legislation, which gave the bookmaker a practical monopoly of all business outside the precincts of the course, was a great disadvantage to both the State and the clubs. The matter was brought before the Government with a view to legislation being introduced to modify the rate of taxation, and to remove the present restrictions, which so favoured illegal methods. The league has received an acknowledgment of its letter from the Acting Prime Minister.