WAR TAX ON STAKES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17280, 22 September 1916, Page 2

WAR TAX ON STAKES.

+ TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I was very much amazed on reading your leading article upon tho war taxation to learn' that horse raco winnings are practically free from taxation and that tho only tax is 1 per cent collected by the race clubs. This means that whoever is responsible for this new order of taxation lias made a very handsoino present to all tho wealthy winning owners in tho Dominion. Wo will take Mr T. H. Lowry’s caso for example. Ho topped the list of winning owners last season, and his total prize money amounted to over £17.000. for which ho had to pay tho paltry sum of about £l7O. Assuming that Mr Lowry’s expenses were £SOOO, tho profit would be over £12,000.' In tho ordinary way of taxation in any other walk "of life the tax on £12,000 would have amounted to £2200. Consequently the National Government makes Mr Lowry ad present of £2030 because it is race winnings. No wonder tho public cry out and say the raring kings dominate this country, when they receive such concessions. Many other glaring cases eouhl ho quoted where the State is making handsome presents to rich men. W ell may we ask, How did such a law get through Parliament? —I anr, etc.,

PUZZLED.