NEW PETROL TAXATION

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 147, 17 March 1933, Page 8

NEW PETROL TAXATION

Free Ambulance Suffers CONCESSION ASKED FOR Referring to the petrol tax at yesterday’s meeting of the Free Ambulance Board, Mr. G. Mitchell said that with a representative.of the St. John Ambulance Association, he had waited on the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates in regard to a reduction in the petrol tax. He had represented that the Free Ambulance might at least be placed on the same plane as fishermen, farmers, and aero clubs. The Free Ambulance had no way of passing it on, so that it was really; a tax imposed on their efforts to aid suffering humanity. It was a-very serious matter as the tax would cost the botird between £3OO and £4OO a year. '/ ■ ■ ■.' ' ' - • ' . Mr. Mitchell. said he had .also indicated to the Minister that the 1 advent of the Free Ambulhpee' had very materially reduced the qinount that would ordinarily -be levied through the Hospital Board,, half of 'wjhieh had to be found< by.J,the’Government. The, Minister had promised to look into the matter, and let them know, but so far they had heard,nothing further. Mr. J. H. Whittaker said the Minister had intimated that the matter was a difficiilt one-to open up, but lie could see no difficulty in view of . the prompt way yn which fishermen were given relief. 111 The chairman, Mr. C. J. B. Norwood, said■ the board appreciated the efforts of the deputation to save cost. Seeing that the ambulance rendered a service entirely free to all people who are sick and injured some discrimination might be made. He felt that responsible Ministers would recognise that, and in some way do something for the Free Ambulance.