MORE DAYS, LESS TAXES

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1923, Page 3

MORE DAYS, LESS TAXES

wll A’l '• Ol N TRY RAt ING CI.U US J WANT. Pi-iME M.t N!STId I! SYMPATHETIC. WELLINGTON. July 19. | A dcpntatiou :ci eo-eui tng ennuryi ~1,-11- ,luh- vailed on the Prone Min-; , pi- ~,,,ruing le -late ill, If needs. Mr T. W. Rhodes. M 11.,l 1 ., intiiidnc.ng Ihe delegation, said that the iwo main huts were: tulditioua.l totali-atoi peimit- and a reduction in taxation. Ah- A. Ilntec Tlittmes), president of the Country Racing Clubs’ Association -poke o, tic* general objects ol tin* deputation as being lemiliar to ’be Prime Minister, who agreed. One-day e 1,,!- wanted two days instead ol one. t ides, (here was an increase, some might go out of existence altogether. Increase ol racing days, be reminded Mr Massey, meant tin increase in the Consoliduted Fund. Taxation was collected whether tic* clubs were losers or gnim-rs hv their day s racing. Mr |). J. Evans (Westland) emphasised the de-ire ol iimntiy people for an increai (■ in the number of days’ racing in their district', as it was a verv exp,--,-ive matter t.» go l" the |j,|.ger i eui res for the en joy nnmt of (heir spur!. He hoped that ii adtiitioiial permit.- were granted, cotillliy e| ii * c 1 1, rough their executive would pave some voic* m the allocation, as 1 1,,,v might he aide to render valuiiMo

;, - -1 - 1 ; • uc-■ to tile .Minister in overcoming difficult it's of rival claims. As a 111 oa1 1 - of -‘'curing more revenue tor 1;,,. Sta.te lie hoped that legislation V,sudd «.,i;>!;■• .■ the telegraphing ol iiiM'sl.nients t.! -civi aril's of racing clubs. Air Ala-sev; “Tliat involves a very impor! ant alterut imi in t 'u* law. I ers.'imliy, I should be inclined to .support it. but I know there is a very -i mug feeling against ii in certain Air Finn-: 'll would obviate beaches t It-- lav. in' regard In kliinkets." Ai; A. A. Slew arl <K! t! i:i I!: > added a |Vw remarks illustrating the dillietiliu..,v i-Udr- in raising finance ... t! e a-■ uni nee of penult =. Air Massey, in reply, said that it was a pretty old store. So far as more Hermits were concerned that require:! legislation, lie would go -o lar ; s:t y Dcii there would be a Hill, j though ilie details were not arranged vet. and Parliament would b" np- | proaefied to grain additional permits, lie thought the House would agree to a reasonable iiUTea-" in the number. 1!,,, 1,,. would r.'m'iid them that there v.a- another Inane!, of the Legislature

in, 1,,.,.,.ii hutof i! loeiors. which ii-cd its ow n judgment --ami was generally i 1,, did not know what position t'n,", would take up in the matter. Ihe more reasonable the clubs were in their requests the more iTkely they were to he granted. The Prime Alini-ter -aid that he had p ;1( l a 1 q ef complaint- about the stakes tax. To a certain extent it was an emergency tax. raised about two year- ago to keen the country going with others. He had looked to the raeirg clubs to provide more revenue. Stakes were then paying one per cent, and he proposed to a-k for five per coin. Tiic racing people said: “AAe will make you an offer of 10 per cent, it you will a Row the taxation to fie revised when I lie slump come- to an end." The tax automatically came to aa end at the close of the present financial vear. hut he eonlil not say that ii would come back to the original one

per cent. ATi- .Massey added that he had a good deal of symoathv for the small elttbs. and he would he glad to support any legislation making matters easier for them. The question of the extra dav. involving an extra permit, would he considered when the Hill was before the House. The larger clubs could very well look after themselves, though Otago had had a bad year.