THE TAX ON TOBACCO.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13612, 22 December 1909, Page 5

THE TAX ON TOBACCO.

(special to "the press.") WELLINGTON, December 21. The Government has changed its mind on the tobacco tax, and after the protests of the Opposition the proposed tax was reduced in the Customs Duties Act Amendment Bill which came before Parliament to-day. The Pill imposes a surtax of 1 per cent, on tobacco, cigars, and cigarettes, and 2i per cent, on other dutiable goods. The reciprocal treaty with 8011 th Africa is not to be affected. No refund shall be made of duty heretofore paid in accordance with the resolutions of the House in regard to the primage duty and the surtax. When the Committee stage of the Bill was reached this evening, Mr ALasscy moved to strike out tobacco, but not cigars and cigarettes. Mr Massey's amendment brought the Prime Minister into the debate. How, he esked, were they going to get the revenue? By doubling the graduated land tax? Mr Massey: "Let mc advise the hon. gentleman to try it. 1 don t care a twopenny ticket about the graduated land tax; it won't affect mc in the slightest, or my supporters, or constituents. If a Bill to increase the graduated land tax is brought down 1 shall vote on the Bill on its merits." The Prime Minister: "I don't suppose such a Bill is going to be carried. ' He added that a certain amount of revenue must be raised. This remark about the graduated land tax was not meant j as a threat. During the discussion, Mr Laurenson, the Government Whip, said the Opposition was not going to turn out the Government on such a paltry matter. There were only 27 Opposition members, bat there were 49 honest men and true backing up the Government. Mr Hardy: "Yes, but you're a very mixed lot." (Laughter.) Mr Massey said the Government -was not likely to go out on this matter. They had been defeated on much more important issues already this session, and they had not gone out. The only thing that would shift them would be the electors. So far as the present Parliament was concerned it wanted a charge of dynamite to shift them. Mr Massey's amendment was defeated by 44 votes to 27.