AMUSEMENTS TAX.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 March 1918, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS TAX.

DISAPPOINTING YIELD. The Amusement Tax adopted last session with a view to taking toll of the patrons to picture shows in particular, has turned out almost a failure. The yield for the ten months of the financial year according to the Government Statistician's Abstract, was only £2575, which compares badly with the estimate placed before Parliament in the Budget. Sir Joseph Ward gave £SO,OOO as the probable yield, and it is just as well that the increased income ta\' has been such a remarkable revenue producer. ■Picture shows, which were specially aimed at by a number of country members,, have escaped lightly from this tax. The popular sixpenny shows are not liable.' There are shilling seats in some theatres, but patrons have shown a definite preference for the cheaper and untaxed seats since the tax came into operation. A largo picture theatre in Wellington which held one performance nightly, and had an extensive "circle" clientele, changed into a continuous show after the tax came in, thus enabling the proprietors to obtain at least as much revenue as before, and save their patrons from the tax, as the tickets to all parts are usually sixpence.