AMUSEMENT TAX.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 July 1923, Page 4

AMUSEMENT TAX.

,\N APPEAL to MR MASSEY. WELLINGTON, July 20. Remis-sion ui the amusement tax payable niton entrance to i'ootlmll matches was urged u])»n Air Alas soy to-day by a deputation from the New /calami Rugby I’liioii. Air Mn-ssey said that while lie could not make a definite prnmi.se, lie was linpefnl that he would he able to net legislation 'through Parliament reducing the tax to a certain extent. Mr \V. S. Oloiin (Rungitikc-i), who introduced the deputation, said that the I'nion was fighting under financial hardships. A certain amount of the profits of the UOo tour, which had amounted to about, £IO.OOO. had been devoted to that purpose and tlu> money had also formed the nucleus of a fund to help poorer Rugby unions. They were now up against it, and he desired to impress on the Government that the amusement tax was handicapping them. Mr S. S. Dean, chairman of the .Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby I'nion, asked for the remission of last year’s amusement taxes for the whole Dominion, amounting to £3031. The Prime .Minister: That looks as though you are well able to pay the taxes. Mr Dean : “No. It all goes back into school football.’' Last year, he said the union had hsi CISUO. This year they were fa.ed with the New fsout’h Wales tour ami next year there v. )-• the proie: t d tour of England. The prime Minister staled that lie wax not unite sure yet what he was going to do in regard to amusement lax. “1 hope,’’ he said. “to get legislation through reducing to a certain extent these taxes which are irritating. 1 will say ttini it is no pleasure to have to collect them. II Rugby football stood by itself ill the matter. 1 could say ’Yes' straight away, but then we are collecting amusement taxes in unite a number of direct ions ami attar as I can see. we shall have to tedueo them all." While making no definite promise lie had no doubt that lie would he aid" to reduce tin- tax, blit he could not nay that, he Would he .. 1 ;<• to ask I‘a 1 1 in nielli, to do so this year as the tinaucin-1 position was heavier than lie had anticipated.