TAVERN LIQUOR SALES

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29735, 31 January 1962, Page 9

TAVERN LIQUOR SALES

Levy Proposal Criticised

The proposed 3 per eent. levy on liquor sales from licensed taverns was criticised bv the chairman of Ballins Industries (Mr N. W Millner) at the annual meeting of the company in Christchurch yesterday. Mr Millner said that under the provisions of the Licensing Amendment Act. 1961, the Licensing Commission may authorise the issue of a tavern licence in place of an hotel licence in areas Where there is no demand for accommodation. “This, in itself, is a practical approach to the position. and has considerable merit, but tied up with this is the imposition of a levy on taverns of 3 per cent, on the gross amount paid for liquor purchases. Intention

"The intention Is to establish a fund with this money which will be used, at the commission's discretion, to provide more accommodation.

"This might be all right in theory, but the capital required to achieve any tangible result in the accommodation field would be very considerable. and far in excess of anv amount that could be collected from this source for many years to come.

“In actual fact, all this Is doing i« to impose a further tax on an industry already heavily taxed, and which ultimately, of course, will be paid for by the public patronising the bars,” said Mr Millner. "The real answer to the accommodation problem is the establishment of a stable industry, freed from over regimentation, in which the investment of private capital is encouraged, with the prospect of adequate returns to investors as is the case overseas.

“No amount of bolstering or subsidising will overcome the position," he added.