SHOULD AMUSEMENTS BE TAXED?

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 861, 6 July 1910, Page 6

SHOULD AMUSEMENTS BE TAXED?

A NOVEL PROPOSAL. At the Municipal Conference yesterday, Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, Mayor of Grey Lynn, moved:— That the Government be urged to tax all tickets to races, theatres and amusements, in order to provide or raise revenue for hospital and charitable aid purposes, thereby relieving ratepayers from such taxation as now adopted, by means ■ of a separate valuo on capital, or other valuo of rateable property. Tho mover said that travelling theatrical companies went through the country and took a lot of money awaj\ ■ The Government, recognising this, now collected income tax from .them, and his council, thought that thoy could stand more taxation. - Mr. E. Pagoi Mayor ( of Eketahuna, in supporting the motion, suggested that if the system, proposed were in force at Reno, the fight there would have paid the cost of charitable aid for two or three years. Mr. J. V. Brown, M.P., Mayor of Napier, thought racing and gambling should be taxed, but not amusements like tho theatre. ■ ■Mr. A. H. Hinclmarsh (Wellington) said ho must protest against this "killjoy" attitude.' He had been told that the picturo shows in Wellington had killed tho bar trade. Voices: "A good job." ( "Question." "They have increased the bar trade." Mr. E. 11. Penny, Mayor of Blenheim, said tho public would have to pay any tax on amusements. Mr. T. Pettit, Mayor of Nelson, said they ought not to think of drawing revenue from sncli disgraceful exhibitions as that which had just taken place in America. Mr. J. J. Devino (Wellington) said tho tax would bo infinitesimal, and would not be felt by the public. He favoured the proposal. The motion was lost.