TAXATION.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19957, 18 June 1930, Page 11

TAXATION.

PRIMAGE DUTY CRITICISED. DLNSOIN RESOLUTIONSL9H» MOM Svwiftl S«Tfle«.j DTJNTSDIN, *tuut 3,7. A discussion on the subject of the Government 'b taxation proposals took plaee at the meeting of the Dnnedin Chamber of Gommereo.

Mr A. H. Allen (chairman) said the Prime Minister had foreshadowed additional taxation, and while the Chamber realised that in the present state of the finances additional taxation in tome form or other was inevitable, it held the view that taxation should be equitable. Many people knew that the super prinlage duty was not equitable. He could quote numerous instances to prove it.' Importers of goods that were sold at from 6d each up to £1 each or £2 each realised the impossibility of passing on the 1 per cent A duty Of 1 per cent, was equal.to £1 in £IOO. Oh a, £SO sale it .might be possible to pate on 10s, or on a . £25 sale ss, but such a thing was problematical, because competition was so keen that everyone was inclined to reduce , prices iftate&d of advance them. The consequence was that the importer was carrying that burden. A firm might import £IO,OOO wofth of goods, which was not a large sum for soitie flrins in this City,. . It would piy &ri additional £looa year in taxation, which was a charge on ti« profits of the year. Then all classes of goods were not subject to the taCt, consequently some were paying duty but others escaped, and the public were not paying; at all. When Si? Joseph Ward made, his primage proposal to Amelia* ment We said it represented a payment of so much per head, ofthe population, but it was nothing of the Hind.. Itwas a levy .on the importing section of the community. Under the circumstances it might <be well to urge the the tai. , itr FairTiairn said it saCmed to liinj that the Government must at present explore every avenue of revenue, 'aftd it might be futile to J protest. . Mr Falconer remarked that it was unfair to tax only one section of tfcfc. oojtt* mnnity. ; . The chairman said that* if the , t*x was 6 per cent, or 19 peif dent, ft ,cotd& be paKSed on to the public, bttfr nst. Z per cent. He moved: "That &s .thoiropetprimage duty is too small in be passed on to the constimer fee* - comes a tax on certain. eoqspmers oiily. this Chamber is of opijdon th|Lt the tax is inequitable, arid urge; the Government to abolish dplay.'* ~ Mr Srpellie moved as an amendment; "Th»t, with a view to rendering. Jdl taxation equitable,. this Chfliftber tests against the revision of the imp Oft* ■ primage duty, and urges the Goverttment abolifth it.'* „/ The motion withdraws, 'im '"the amfepdjnent was carried unanimously.^ It wasfurther resolved, on the motion of Mr, Miller, seconded by Mr Falooner, " That hi view of the possible Budget shortage, this Chamber reeonupendfi to the Government that!if f«aftfier taiatio» is necessary It ahould ber gliied" fi* | luxuries and anwsemoatei"

1929, ilt Wyveyn in" -tW., Magistrate's Cohrtat definitely'stated, when offeilding motorist;; that the, grdW'Jfjjmt system of' manuAl aistn&to i*t jeyjM-^ss»' v ~- ings was moat unsatisfactory. fog thaf, the <A>-, : tndation had forwarded ' ' North Tslaftd Motor Vnion*a '%ai£y|aTly;, meeting.'asking' for jeffllght ■shown to' the pnbtti train. That was catried tuiammowny, ; the Department ad*isinfif'*'that it' *a£ " looking into the matter.?'' • The same' problem-Tras ?%fefreal? ..*t ' the annual conference o?" the Motors Union at Auckland in Auguflt, when the president's r«portstyt6<| t£at *•» MrrStOTling-Opnefal «MTa vr&fi, -hw sfciiWß exepntive i Uftinn a lamp ,deadgned to be u«ea -it . ; dangerous • level-cJoiiiags ,in •• busy; «/• thoroughfares. TJie feeling ok tftirt Auckland conference was that the wit- L t«f had - stud. < -t *■ • ■** y