AMUSEMENT TAX.

Otaki Mail, 9 October 1922, Page 2

AMUSEMENT TAX.

It is gathered from th" remarks made by the Prime Mini-tor in the House of j Representatives that the amusement j tax is to be done away with altogether I in the near future. This decision will j meet with general approbation. To ■ tax. for instance, cricket and football clubs urn; in us if a! societies, from which the members derive no pecuniarv gai:., is altogether wrong. Such institutions as these find it hard enough to struggle along without having to pay taxation. Of course, the amusement tax is. in some instances, paid by the general public. >e whom it is passed on. High admission fees, however, s. ; iiouxly affect the attendance at any gathering, and those societies which pay the amusement tax themselves have found it a difficult matter to make end-: meet. To tax football clubs is the height of I absurdity, because this sport is a valuable adjunct in connection with the making of good citizens, to sav nothing of soldiers. Franc.-* has realised this, and instead of. a- is the case in -New Zealand, taxing sport, i.- encouraging football riv making grant- from the grate exchequer. Tile method of taring racing clubs i- altogether unfair. i i.e taxation on such clubs should be on profits only, and not imposed when there has been a io.-.- over a meeting The only justification for an amusement tax i- ju regard to u concern from which private profit is made, and even in these circumstances it is the general public which has to pay because the tax is pa-.-ed on wherever possible.