NEW TAXES.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2559, 6 September 1915, Page 7

NEW TAXES.

• SOME UNPOPULAR ONES. Tho proposals for. the charging of Customs duty on petroleum oils, and for the modification of, the method of levying duty on grow in favour as members examino them more closely. Everybody is resentful against tho proposal to levy duty on kerosene, but there aro those wlho find almost as inuch fault with tho proposed duty' oil petrol benzino and other fuels for internal combustion engines. The tax on. kerosene, as has been explained, would nover have been levied but for the difficulty of collecting a tax on; some petroleum oils unfess all wore dutiable alike. ■ Tho difference between various grades is one of degree rather than oi kind, and there would be endless difficulty if tho Customs Department, had to; dotermine which grades should be admitted free. Tile tax oil motor spirit is objected to as being a tax on industry and progress. Every year • petrol as a motivo fuol is coining into more general use. Dairy fanners use it; for driving milking ma : ' chinos, fishing boats nowadays all have petrol engines, and tho number of motor transport vehicles for freight or passengers throughout, the country is increasing very -rapidly. The man who drives a motor-car for his own pleasure is the m®n. at whom the tax may bo presumed.'to have been •'especially aimed, but such vehicles consume in the yoar far less _ motor spirit than, is .used for the driving of motor wagons, motor delivery vans, light machinery, and fishing craft ; So at any rate tho opponents of the tax argue, and: they assert with growing confidence that the tax will never bo imposed. Opinions are just as strong against the proposed new basis for the' levying of beer duty. While the Prohibitionists admit that it would . be a good thing' if the people would acquire th.e habit of drinking lighter ales, they doubt very much' whether _ this very desirable end may. be achieved by a very modest excise tax; They say rather, and in this they ar# supported by many who are not Prohibitionists, that tho new proposals will 6imply givo a big commercial advantage to those in tho trade who specialise m light beer. Practically . all parties, aro agreed that more than £55,000 (the estimate named'in the Budget) should be taken in new taxation on, beer. It 1 has been the habit of, inost-critics to scoff at the 6chemo for taxing noh-intoxicanting drinks, to which they apply as a goneric name "ginger-pop," but the' Prime.Minister estimates.that the "ginger-pop" taxo's' will produce a. great deal more than most people imagine, even' more tliaai the amount : (£20;000)_ which Sir Joseph Ward has estimated in the Budget.