INCREASED BEER DUTY

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22796, 23 August 1939, Page 7

INCREASED BEER DUTY

STATEMENT BY AUCKLAND TRADE SECRETARY I : (PEltl ASSOCIATIOK tKIicBUJ.) AUCKLAND, August 22. A statement was made by Mr M.-- J. Walsh, secretary of the vincial council, speaking for the wholesale and retail sections of the licensed trade, with reference to the local reaction to the passing on to the'public of the recently-imposed increase ,in duty,on beer. He said that the trade in both the wholesale and retail branches had no alternative bat to,act similarly to the petrol companies and transfer the new impost to its customers. ■' : ■ Once again it merely acted as a collecting -agent for the Government, as it has. so'frequently done, in the past. The trade, in neither of its branches, was in a position to carry or absorb the new; excise duty; - : , AUCKLAND WORKERS DEMAND PINT FOR SIXPENCE - {T»»3B ASSOCIATION TSCXOSaX.) AUCKLAND, August 22. . The increase in the price of beer was discussed at a meeting of employees of . the Colonial Sugar Company’s Cheisea refinery. A resolution was unanimously passed strongly protesting against the action of hotel licensees in raising the price of beer. The passing on to the wage-earners of any increased beer taxation without the specific : sanction of the . Government was resented.- The demanded that beer should be sold by Imperial measure and suggested that 6d was a fair price for a pint.