RACING PROBLEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 October 1923, Page 2

RACING PROBLEMS.

HEAVY TAN ON SPORT. WELLINGTON, Sept. 2fi In the course of his remarks at the annual meeting of the Wellington Racing Cluli, held yesterday, the president (Mr J. B. I larcourt), referred to the heavy tax levied on sport, partieularly racing, and expressed the epinion that the imposition of such taxation would defeat the very object for which it was levied, and would —and was—driving money into the hands of the bookmakers.

Mr 1 larcourt said: “I feci I would net be doing my duty if I did not refer to the extraordinary amount ot taxation the racing people are called upon to pay. The effect of these demands upon the racing public is gradually becoming appaient. Notwithstanding tie very satisfactory increase in the attendance, the totalisator receipts continue to tall ofl. ami in the end, as is usual with excessive taxation, the imposition will defeat its own object and the Colonial Treasurer's finances stiller accordingly. We are not complaining, but we feel it our duty to point out the effect of the present policy. Money is being driven into the hands of the bookmaker, from which it can never be traced or taxed.

"People attend racecourses with a certain amount of money for speculative purposes, which, for purposes of illustration we will call ‘the pool. As the luck varies, this money changes hands cn the course, but still remains oil the course. The tax gatherer puts out his hand after each race and takes a big haul out of thi> pool which never goes hack into it, and the pool becomes gradually less and less. “Witness the falling off in totalisutor receipts in spite of increased attendance, and sustained interest in what hits now become a very high of racing. We must look for a still further falling off unless taxes are reduced. The betting is not restricted, it is being forced into the hands of the bookmaker, which is not in the public interest.”