It ought to be taxed in no uncertain way. The
habit of betting is so widespread and so deeply ingrained that it will not be eradicated or anything like it by taxation, but if it can be discouraged and the State can at the same time receive a revenue so much the better. Moral argu- ments are brought against this taxation, but the most important moral argument can, we think, be applied in its favour. If the principle of taxing betting is accepted by Parliament there will be plenty of time to experiment with the tax and add to it or modify it as has been done in the corresponding case of the taxation of drink. We were glad to read in the Times of Wednesday a letter from. Sir Henry Cautley, who was Chairman of the Select Committee on Betting. He said that in his belief credit betting covered .75 to 85 per cent. of the whole, and that by the proposed tax the State would get six or seven millions a year.
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