PASSING ON TAX.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 187, 10 August 1939, Page 7

PASSING ON TAX.

COMMISSIONER'S VIEW. EACH CASK OX ITS MERITS. (From Our Correspondent.) WELLINGTON*. Wednesday. Asked to-day about a suggestion that the fourpeiice increase in the petrol tax might be dealt with by passing half on to the general public, the remaining twopence being borne by transport operators, the Commissioner of Transport, Mr. C. Latirenson. said he did not think there was any likelihood of any flat apportionment of that nature being brought into operation. Mr. Latirenson said the Transport Act provided that each transport operator's case should be considered on its merits. The legal position was that in each case rates and charges, for the service were to be considered in the light of the financial position of the operator —that was, his total operating and overhead cos*s against his revenue.

The commissioner added that any application for an increase in freight rates or passenger fares must be considered in the light of the circumstances of each particular case. For instance, there were some operators whose ]>osition would warrant their standing the whole of the foiirpence. whereas others might not be able to do so.