REDUCED DUTIES ON BEER

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21255, 29 August 1934, Page 12

REDUCED DUTIES ON BEER

#_— STRONG PROTEST BY MRS E. R. MCCOMBS .MINISTER WARNS MEMBER TO BE CAREFUL fFrom Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, August 23. A strong protest against the reduction of excise and import duties on beer was made by Mrs E. R. McCombs (Lab., Lyttelton), in the House of Representatives to-night, speaking on the second reading of. the Customs Acts Amendment BilJ. Mrs McCombs was interrupted several, times by the Minister for Customs (the fit. Hon. J. G. Coates), who at one stage warned her to be careful of what she was saying. Mrs McCombs said she wanted k) make a strong protest against the reduction in duties on beer. Mr Coates: On what? Mrs McCombs: On'something the honourable member does not know anything about. If he doesn't know anything about it now. he will after he has listened to me. She added that the Tariff Commission had not suggested that there should be any remission of beer duties, and no public announcement had been made about it. Mr Coates: The brewers did not make anv representations at all. Mrs McCombs: The Minister says that the brewers made no representations. I want to say Mr Coates: Be careful'what you say. Mrs McCombs: I will. Nothing I can say could be too strong in condemning the proposal. The whole thing has been done without any adeqi ale reason being given. The paltry excuse that, has been offered —it would be ludicrous if it were not so serious—is that the export of hops would be assisted. Between 1932 and 1933, the export of hops lias increased by three times in volume, and the proposal means a straight-out gift of £112,000 to the brewing industry. Mr F. Langstone (Lab., Waimarino): They must have been good boys. Mrs McCombs: They must have done something to provoke such generosity. If this remission is made it will mean that a greater number of our people will be placed on the No. 5 scheme. Mr Coates: It will be made. Mrs McCombs: I have no doubt when the Minister says it will be made that it will be made. He knows who his friends arc, and we can expect him to stand by them, Rise in Brewery Shares She added that the gilt was being made to the breweries to help an industry that represented about onethousandth of one per cent, of the total exports of the Dominion. The effect of the Government's proposal already had been to increase the nrice of brewery shares. The concessions protected no one. Money that would otherwise be spent along wholesome channels would be diverted to the liquor traffic, and the liquor trade employed fewer men for the value of its output than any Other industry in New Zealand. Mr H. T. Armstrong (Lab., Christchurch East): How many art? employed in the drinking of it? Mrs McCombs: I have not assessed Ihe number; but there are far too many. A gift is being made to the most selfish and lawless trade in the community, and one that flourishes on the vices and weaknesses of the people. There is no trade that deserves it less. It is going to increase insanity and crime, and mean an increase in misery. Mrs McCombs concluded by saying that the paltry excuse that had been offered was not going to justify the action of the Government in the eyes of the large number of people interested in this question. Comparison of Duties "I have no interest in any brewing concern, and have not had for the last 15 years, so I can speak on the subject of beer duties as one not primarily interested," said Mr A. Jul! (C, Waipawa). "Before the war, the excise duty on beer was 3d a gallon, but during the war it was increased to Is (id, or six times the original duty. This reduction of 3d still makes the duty five limes the pre-war figure. The suggestion that the brewery people will retain the whole of the amount is absurd.'' Mr W. E. Barnard (Lab., Napier): Then who will get the benefit? Mr Jul!: The benefit will accrue to the consumer. Mr Barnard: Oh, nonsense! On a pint of beer? Mr Jull: There are precious few pints sold these days. Mr J. A. Lee (Lab., Grey Lynn): The benefit can hardly be given on a "pony." Mr Jull: It is u small concession compared with what was given in the British budget last year. Tho Chancellor of fhc Exchequer reduced the duty by 8d a gallon, with a view to giving Id a pint to the consumer.