Show BRITISH TAX lAX ON BETTING CAUSES If More Unpopular Than Levy on Beer Whisky or Income HITS BOOKMAKERS Said to Hurt Blooded Stock Indu Industry try LONDON March 5 United Press Since Its introduction last November November No- No vember the betting tax has caused a greater storm of indignation than did the whisky tax beer tax Income tax or any of the numerous taxes under which the labors Cash transactions are allowed on ona ona a race racetrack track but It Is al to call callon callon on a bookmaker one must speak oVer a owned government telephone The man In the street must not hand a betting sUp slip to a man he sees see on th sidewalk but he may go to a neighboring telephone booth and make bets that way provided no money passes The betting tax was expected to bring in a year on which the government hoped to raise 7 by March 31 According to Ronald McNeill M. M P. P financial secretary of the treasury the latter figure was put down as a rough guess and not very likely to be reached Further the full revenue producing power of the tax he thought would begin after rae flat Ing commenced on March 21 The greatest antagonists are the bookmakers who went on strike against it withIn a few weeks of its Inception Some oppose It on principle prIn- prIn ciple others declare they are being ruIned by Its operations maintainIng maintain maintain- Ing that lawful betting has decreased decreased de- de creased at least GO 60 per cent Furthermore Furthermore Fur Fur- they draw a parallel between between be- be tween prohibition in the United States and the bets tax over here the obvious sequel according to them bEing the marked increase of betting which is now done by breakIng breaking break break- ing the law Breeders of thoroughbreds are not so unanimous in their opinions and statements Some maintain the tax has already hurt the great bloodstock Industry prophesying the end of betting and as a consequence ruIns both racing acing and the breeding trade that depends upon it It Others maintain that the evidence available Is all to the contrary Taking the record ember sales as an example example ex- ex ample of the Increasing ever value of aU all classes of bloodstock the same optimists draw attention to the enormous demand for the services ser ser- vices of the leading sires In the count country all booked up for 1927 1928 and 1929 according to the Racing Calendar With owners trainers race executives ex- ex and the racing public generally gen gen- the present tax on turnover Is unpopular Many favor vol some alternative alternative al- al scheme with the approval of the vast numbers of those interested interested in- in In racing Schemes suggested suggest suggest- ed are a tax only on net winnIngs of layers and backers a tax registration reg- reg scheme for both and bookmakers or a stamp method meth meth- od of taxing all accounts Prominent racing folk folic are of the opinion that Churchill will not attempt attempt at- at tempt to alter the tax in the forthcoming forthcoming forth forth- coming budget and If the proceeds of the betting tax do not come up to expectations 1928 may see the legalization of cash betting and the Introduction of the parl pari on the race tracks |