AMUSEMENT TAX

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 58, 6 September 1917, Page 3

AMUSEMENT TAX

CONTRIBUTIONS BY PICTURE SHOWS

Discussing the subject of the amusement tax, provided for in the Finance Bill, Mr..W. A. Veitch in the House of Representatives-yesterday, urged that it was improper to tax a man on his gross income. The best way was to raise the amount on the high income. He was strongly opposed to the taxation which affected the cost of living. A member: Picture shows! (Laughter.) Mr. Veitch: It's all very well for kill-joys, but if we tried to tax motorcars and motor tiree you would soon put a stop to it. Members: No fear. Mr. R. P. Hudson pointed out that the working man who went to the pictures, for instance, was only taxed threepence a time—say, threepence a week. Surely that was not unreasonable. Mr. J. T. M. Hornsby contended that under the Bill the Government was not getting at the picture syndicates, who were "raking in the boodle," while the picture show proprietors might be losing money. Mr. P. C. Webb contended that the pictures were really of an educative value, and that they tended to keep many a man out of the hotels. Last year 56 picture shows showed a los 3, and he did not see why they should be placed, on a different footing to any other section of the community. Mr. L. M. Isitt said that if they wanted to get the best out of the amusement tax that was possible, all they need do was to close the publichouses at 6 p.m. Sir John Findlay said that members could not expect the Minister of Finance to at this moment revise the whole of his scheme, as laid down iv the Bill. For that reason he should support the clause. Mr. Hindmarsh stated that if picture shows were of value, it was not too much to ask the public to contribute in war time £60,000, which was the amount proposed to be raised. For his own part he thought somer .dctures, at any rate, were of educational value, and in any case a great many people derived a lot of pleasure from them—especially considering how the children were "starved" in the schools..

Mr. C. H. Poole'urged that the "country shows" should chaTge at the rate of 6d a head. Mr. C. J. Parr pointed out that men who patronised races were taxed, and the men who visited publichouses were also taxed. It was only right that picture shows should be taxed also.

Dr. A. K. Newman said that such a tax as proposed had been in existence in England for some time. It was found there that the tax had been evaded to a considerable extant by complimentary tickets, and Mr. Bpnar Law had taken steps to remedy this shortcoming. "When it is known that the whole proceeds of this'tax are to be devoted as pensions to the old people of the State it will be doubly welcome," was the view expressed by Mr. H. G. Ell, who said that the pensions should be increased.

Mr.- Webb expressed the view that if pensions could not be raised in any other manner than that proposed it was not saying very much for the country. The member for Grey called for a division on the clause, which, however, was carried on the voices.

On clause 57, dealing with exemptions from the amusement tax, Mr. C. E. Statham asked if musical societies would be exempt.. Sir Joeeph Ward : They will be exempt unless they; are being conducted by someone for profit. Tho Bill has still to pass its final stages.