TAXATION OF GAS COMPANY

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21084, 8 February 1934, Page 11

TAXATION OF GAS COMPANY

COMPLAINT MADE AT ANNUAL MEETING heavy taxation which the -hristchurch Gas Company has to pay in the form of income tax and other Government charges, amounting to £14,000 a year, or 8.34 d for every 3000 ? u u l Qet of gas sold - was referred to by Mr F. I. Cowlishaw at the annual meeting of shareholders of the company. Mr Cowlishaw presided in the absence through illness of the chairman, Mr Frank Graham. State and municipal undertakings, he said escaped this charge, and were with ?h« eXtent in Unfair competition frnm « co mP.any. Many deputations fiom the gas industry had waited on the Government and made representano r t e^ rd »?g the unfairness of thepresent situation, but the industry had received no redress ' u """y n~j •hT he / nmiaJ ./ eport was adopted, and ine dividend recommended by the atT^h.™ 5 fPP'oved and declared at a subsequent meeting of directors. George c™,m tinng * di , rectors - Messrs re d elec 0 t n ed an a d u £orl: S ™* | ■ AUSTRALIAN TRADE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN MINISTERS LTHE PEESS Special Service] AUCKLAND, February 7. Good progress is being made with the trade consultations between- the Minister for Industries and Commerce (the Hon. R. Masters) and the Federal Minister for Customs (the Hon F. H. Stewart). The discussion, which originated in Wellington, relates mainly to the lifting, under a [ system of quantitative restriction of • embargoes on Australian citrus fruits and New Zealand potatoes. On the train journey from Wellington, and during their visit to Waitangi, the Ministers have continued their consultations, which will be concluded in Wellington. In reply to a question, Mr Masters said that he was gratified with the stage which had been reached in the negotiations. An element of compromise had been a prominent feature and he was hopeful that a satisfactory trade arrangement would be reached.

PRICE OF GOLD (BRITISH OFtT.'IAL WIRIXESS.) LONDON. February 6. America purchased the .whole of the £1,200,000 worth of gold sold to-day at £6 19s 3d a tine ounce. Quotations: £ s. d. February 8 .. ..6193 February 5 .. ..700 February 3 .. ..6183 February 2.. .. Cl 9 6 February 1 .. .. 6 15 C January 31 .. .. 6 13 1 I January 30 .. .. 612 10 I PRICE OF SILVER (BBiTisu ufFiciA'. v.'mr.i.r.--3.i RUGBY, February 6. Silver i pence an ounce• is quoted: Feb. ,j. Feb. fi. Forward .. 19;} 1!) 0-10 Spot .. ..19 11-10 19J COLOMBO TEA AUCTION lI'EEJS *SSCRIAT!O.V TEI.EOIUM.) DUNEDIN, February 7. Mr L. M. Wright has received the following cabled report on the Colombo tea auction of February 6:—The market for common broken pck<<\s was firm; common, medium, and fine broken orange pekoes, 1 to 2 cents cheaper owing to inferior quality. Fine teas declined 3 to 6 cents. The quantity auctioned was 1,510,0001b. At next week's sale a total of 1,910,0001b will be catalogued. STUD ENGLISH LEICE.STEHK FOR AUSTRALIA To an Australian buyer and on behalf of Canterbury Agricultural College, Dalgety and Co., Ltd., of Christchurch, have forwarded one stud English Leicester ram and two stud English Leicester ewes to Australia. DISTILLERIES PURCHASED Advice has been received from Messrs Arthur Bell and Sons, Ltd., Perth, Scotland, that they have purchased the Duffton-Glenlivet Distillery, the Blair-Athol! Distillery, and theii entire stock of old Scotch whiskies. The distillery at Duffton has been silent for the last two years, but will be reopened by the new owners at an carlj date. This expansion on the part of this well-known Scottish firm of whisk} distillers is indicative of the revival in trade, due, among other things, U the changes in the United Stales oJ America, as a market for whisky.

POULTRY ANI> !'>(>'» MARKET G- H. Bradford, Limited, poultry and egg market. 118 Tunm street, report that very large yardings of poultry of •ill classes came forward for the Week's markets, and although entries were numerous, prices wei c maintained at satisfactory to sellers, and for all closes of k ,lds - ni table chicken, hens, and ducklings, there are still requirements. The following prices were realised. Tabl. chicken, light 3s fid to G.s. heavies Gs to 8s Gd; hens, light 2s 6d to 3s fld heavies 3s 6d to 5s Od; ducks, old 2s 6d to 4s, ducklings 4s Gd to 5s Gd. Eggs. Prices arc: First grade Is 2d, second grade Is Id.