BETTING TAX IN N.S.W.

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 154, 29 December 1930, Page 11

BETTING TAX IN N.S.W.

UNFAVOURABLE START

(Prom "Vedette.") SYDNEY, 2iLh December. Yilliers Day at Raudwick on Saturday was generally known as "tax" day, for it saw the inception of Mr. .T. T. Lang's 10 per cent, tax on winning wagers with bookmakers. Judged by the attendance at aßndwick and the results achieved, tho fax is likely to prove a hopeless fiasco, and if persisted in will do racing irreparable harm. Tho tax by itself might survive and achieve some result, but continued with the present economic conditions it is too great a hurdle. The attendance on Saturday showed a slump of about 28 per cent., and there was a totalisator decrease of £12,----000. Racing people stayed away for two reasons —shortage of cash and as a protest against the tax. Those present were most apathetic and failed even to express their feelings against the sharp reversal of form shown by Bawn-na-gliis which had run ingloriously at Bosch iH a week earlier. Bookmakers.in the back rows of the paddock ring did little or no business, and those in good positions and. with good connections reported up to 75 per cenl, decrease of business. It was estimated that about £9000 would be received in taxation, as against, the £10,000 expected over the new tax, but the State Government lost in tax pa cutrxtaco-fecs awl totalisatpr^.

percentages approximately £2000. In ' addition there was a marked increase in shop betting at starting price, which, being illegal, naturally is not taxed. In addition S.P. bookmakers had agents collecting money at Kandwick. Licensed bookmakers reported this to the A..T.C, and there is likely to be some action. It will be hard to prove, for betting commissioners are regularly accepted institutions, and instructions to an individual to invest £50 on a horse may bo genuine or simply an evasion of the law. BOOM FOR TELEGRAPH OFFICE. The tclcgraxJh office at Randwick on Saturday wag particulary busy, over 1000 more telegrams being sent. Many of these went to Victoria to S.P. bookmakers there. Kegular racegoers soon realised this method of evading the tax. Several trainers arc negotiating for transfer to Victoria, and a. number of the biggest bookmakers are not renewing their licences from the Government when they expire at the end of the year. These cost £175 for the Metropolitan area. Looking at the tax dispassionately, it might have survived at any ordinary time. At the present it is doomed to hopeless failure, and an early revocation is expected. The business has not gone to the totalisator as expected by Treasury officials. One thing is sure. If the tax stays, Sydney will lose its charm for New Zealand owners and trainers, for reduction in stakes is a certainty.