Photo fees up

Press, 14 July 1980, Page 10

Photo fees up

Christchurch > photo-pro-cessing firms say they have been forced to raise their prices by up to 10 per cent as a result of the Budget’s 40' per cent tax on photographic film. Previously the industry was exempt from sales tax.

Now, all New Zealand-made products they use are subject to the levy. The manager of Christchurch Photo Engravers, and president of the Graphic lArts Plate Makers’ Association, Mr I. R. Marriott, said that the price of negatives and plates had increased significantly. Because of the tax, the negative content of the finished product had risen on average about 15 per cent. With most printing jobs, on the plate side of the business, that meant a rise in price of between 8 and 10 per cent. After the announcement of the Budget measures, fears were expressed about the effect of the new cost on export orders. The association as a result approached the Customs Department for clarification of details, Mr Marriott said. The department had ruled that in the case of exports, all sales tax would be refundable. “It is not correct to say exporting firms are losing money,” he saidThe plate makers were, however, disappointed about the new tax and were making representations to the Government.