Call To Remove Tax On Petrol Rejected

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30190, 23 July 1963, Page 16

Call To Remove Tax On Petrol Rejected

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 22. A committee of the National Party's annual conference today threw out a remiit calling for the remaining 2d emergency tax on petrol to be removed. It adopted another remit demanding the removal of the differential between “main port" and other petrol prices. The chairman (Mr W. J Court, Auckland) asked delegates where the Minister of Finance <Mr Lake) should get the £2 million from if the 2d was dropped. "He has already removed £7 million. Would it not be looked on as an election bribe?” asked Mr Court. Another delegate; I hope I live hong enough to see a National Party conference ask for a tax to be put on. Leave the 2d on. Mr S. Smith, a former Minister of Agriculture; The Minister of Finance has already taken 4d off the emergency tax that was put on in the “black Budget.” We should be thanking our Minister of Finance. We know he has been scratching this time. Mr Court: It should be

done when the time is opportune. Mr J. Scarf (Otaki) said that the differential petrol prices were illogical and archaic, farcical and ludicrous. A letter from the Minister of Customs (Mr Shelton), read to the meeting. . favoured the retention of the differentials because of the “user pays” principle. A uniform price would be a departure from that principle, he said. "Consumers would be called on to subsidise the primary producer,’’ said Mr Shelton's letter. “If there is to be a subsidy, it should be provided by the general taxpayer and not by the users of petrol.”

Mr Smith: The comments made by the Minister are tripe. (Laughter.) Mr A. McCready, member erf Parliament for Otaki, said that a car costing £1298 in Petone cost £1298 tn Kaitaia Mr B. G. Rowland (Manawatu): If it costs something to send petrol to my place. I don't want anyone else to pay. Do you want a uniform price for cabbages between Wellington and Otaki?