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NEW ZEALAND RACING LEGISLATION The New Zealand government put some additional racing legislation through the House of Representa ¬ tives at the session which closed recently Tha extra tax of two and onehalf per cent on racing clubs receipts was passed in councctiou with the budget proposals but the premier explained that it was not meant to affect nominations acceptances etc It means however that the tax on totalizator investments to the government will now be four per cent leaving clubs six per cent The two and a half per cent will apply to bookmakers fees re ¬ ceived by clubs and their other sources of revenue with the exception above stated Some of the clubs do not like the proposal and the Auckland metropol ¬ itan clubs telegraphed to the premier and the leader of the opposition emphatically protesting against any increase In taxation during the present racing year The club urged that programs had been framed on the understanding that the only tax to provide for was the totalizator tax and that the hicrease in taxation should be on the net revenue The act as now passed places the tax OH the gross revenue with the exceptions noted The proprie ¬ tary pony racing clnbs are to be suppressed by legis ation comng into effect April 1 but which does iot apply to clubs authgrized to use the totalizator lie opposition to the bookmaker in New Zealand is iiot strong enough to get rid of him Though most hnt raclnRfCi1S want totalizator exclusively thnL h c no bccn able ttue to brlS tho government to r committee mmSt that tVe leadef l the opposition moved in no club be compelled to license bookmakers but the amendment was ruled out of order as having been introduced at the wroug stage Thus was reaffirmed a policy that has now prevailed in M w calaud for several years of forcing the bookmaker on racing clubs that prefer to furnish tnelr patrons with some other medium for backing their opinions The government holds that when people are allowed to bet on race courses they should wave tlieir cholcei of method
