Photo printers hit by Budget

Press, 7 August 1976, Page 4

Photo printers hit by Budget

PA Wellington Photo-process industries are up in arms about an apparent anomaly in the 1976 Budget which could substantially increase printing, packaging, publishing and commercial photography costs. The matter will be the sub-

ject of representations to the Minister of Customs (Mr Wilkinson) by the New Zealand Photographic Industries Association next week.

The Budget announced sales tax increases which included 10 per cent on manufacturing machinery and equipment. But because of the removal of previous exemptions, commercial and industrial photographic equipment now falls into the amateur category and is hit by 50 per cent sales tax on cameras, and 30 per cent on processing and printing equipment. The secretary of the association (Mr L. J. Davis) said yesterday that a processing camera of a type used extensively in the packaging industry would rise as a result of the Budget from $20,000 to $30,000. Budget increases right across the commercial and industrial photographic equipment field would seriously affect the cost of printers, . newspaper organisations the already hardpressed book publishing industry, the packaging industry and commercial photographers. “Ultimately, the consumer must be hit by the increases, which will add substantially to the cost of the products.” This association and other organisations, including the Graphic Arts and Platemakers Federation, have already taken up the matter this week ■with the Comptroller o&Custqpa. _