Sales tax on magazines, books feared

Press, 7 June 1980, Page 5

Sales tax on magazines, books feared

Sales tax on books and magazines would impede the free availability of reading material, according to the South Island manager of Gordon am Gotch (N.Z.), Ltd (Mr K. J. Mealing). Mr Mealing said such i tax would breach the prin ciples of several inter national agreements signed by-New Zealand. New Zealand was internationally regarded as one of the most literary countries in the world because of its efficient education system backed up by the availability . of books and magazines. Mr Mealing said the record industry had urged the Government to impose the tax in the hope that sales tax on records would be reduced. When the Recording Industry Association pointed out’that it was unfair that records were taxed while magazines such as “Penthouse” and "Playboy” were not, the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) said the govnerment

wanted to tax them. The Government would look closely to see if there was t way the tax could be ipplied. Mr Mealing said he was •.oncerned becauge any tax ipplied to “Playboy” could .xtend to other books and nagazines. “Playboy” had >een classified by the r ndecent Publications Tribunal as acceptable for unrestricted distribution. Gordon and Gotch asks its customers to write to the Minister Of Customs (Mr Templeton) opposing a sales tax on books and magazines. Teachers and librarians have also been asked to express their oposition to the Minister and to local members of Parliament.