BEER DUTY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 104, 29 October 1913, Page 11

BEER DUTY

Hon. F. M. B. Fiaher moved the second reading of the Beer Duty Amendment. Bill. He explained that it was a. technical measure, providing means for meeting departmental difficulties. Opposition members : Any extra taxation ? The Minister : No. Mr. Pearce Baid he had been in hope that there would have been a clause to increase the beer duty. As it was not competent for a private member to move for increased taxation he would, wheh in committee, move an amendment to section 14 of the principal Act, so as to reduce the present tax of 3d per gallon, to 2d, as an indication, that it should be doubled. The business wa.» one of the most iniquitous monopolies in the whole country. Mr. Isitt was delighted to find thafc he could agreo with, the member for Patea. There was no doubt that the beer tax should be increased. He would support the suggestion aB an indication that the duty should be doubled. Mr. Wilford argued that a comprehensive Bill should have been brought down dealing with the varied questions affecting licensing legislation. "AT LAST , .. . .» Hon. Mr. Fisher, in reply, said that at last the Government which was connected with monopolies would not be afraid ts place an increased tax on beer. An additional 3d per gallon duty would produce £122,000. The annual -profit of the brewers amounted to a quarter of a million; and to obtain that profit they paid in wages £109,000. NO MONOPOLY WANTED. . Mr. J. Vigor Brown : .What; about thelandowner ? Hon. , Mr. Fisher i , I will gay this fot the landowner : His monopoly does Hot produce lunatics and criminals. Mr. Brown : The brewers do not want a monopoly. Hon. Mr. Fisher : They- have got it. They have bought it. Although the .Reform Party had been accused of being the party of m6nopoly, he hoped that to this monopoly there w&s going to be an end. The Bill was read a second time on the voices. SCIENCE AND ART The Science and Art Bill, as reported with amendments from the Special Committee appointed to consider it, was next dealt with. Hon. F. M. B. Fisher said that under the Bill it was proposed to set up a board to control a Dominion Museum in Wellington, a Dominion Art Gallery, and a scientific library, the board to consist of the Minister of Internal Affairs, the director of the Dominion Museum, tho president of the governors, atid five persons to be appointed by the Governor in Council. The Minister paid a tribute to the valuable services rendered by the late Mr. Hamilton, director of the Museum. Mr. Dickson, explained that Mr. Myers, the member of Auckland East, had asked him to bring down two amendments, which he would move in Committee. The first of these, which the Minister had intimated his willingness to accept, provided that pictures purchased for the National Gallery should^ be available on loan to the galleries in other centres. The second one was not acceptable to the Minister, but he (Mr. Dickson) intended to divide the House ori the question. It provided that any money granted from time to time for the purchase of pictures should be divided equally among .Wellington, Auckland, Chrißtchurch, and Dunedin. After further discussion the Bill was formally committed. Then progress was reported, and the House rose at 11 o'clock."