Appeal on tax ruling possible

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33383, 15 November 1973, Page 14

Appeal on tax ruling possible

An appeal against the decision of the Supreme Court directing reapportionment of $2,790,095 in petrol tax among local authorities in and around Christchurch might be considered by the administering committee for the tax, the committee’s chairman (Cr D. R. Dowell) said yesterday.

A meeting of the committee would probably be called soon to consider the Supreme Court decision, he said. The committee could decide on an appeal, but it would also be open to individual councils to appeal, Cr Dowell said. The Court’s decision could have important consequences, he said. It has been suggested that the total sum which might

have to change hands under the Supreme Court ruling could be as much as $lOO,OOO. However, the city treasurer (Mr L. A. G. Rich), said he was unable to say how much the decision involved as far as the Christchurch City Council was concerned. The decision could mean the loss of a substantial sum to his council, said the Waimairi County Council’s county clerk (Mr J. Reid) yesterday. The petrol tax money the council had received for the two years in question would have already gone through the accounts. The Malvern county clerk (Mr B. W. Perrin) also said he was unable to give any exact figures of what the decision might mean to individual councils. However, he said, rural councils would receive several thousand dollars each, and some might receive more than $40,000. (Judge’s decision, page 9)