CUSTOMS REVENUE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 104, 29 October 1931, Page 14

CUSTOMS REVENUE

GOVERNMENT'S TASK

NO HOPE OF REDUCTION

Several remits dealing with fiscal matters were referred by the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union to-day to *a special committee for action. The present' Government, said the Dominion president (Mr. W. J. Poison, M.P.), was as sympathetic towards the farmer as any the country had had for a considerable time. How, he asked, could they expect, the Government to release any source of revenue when it was faced with a deficit of 8} million.pounds? At the present time it was not possible for the Government to free the farming community or anyone else through the Customs Department. It had piled taxation on anything that would bear taxation, searching for every possible source of revenue as well as making considerable economies to try to keep the Budget balanced so that the country could pay its debts. It was expected that next year things would be even more difficult,' Mr. Polson continued. The fact that New Zealand had mado such strenuous efforts to balance her Budget was going to stand to her in the next year or two. Her integrity as a country determined to pay her way was a matter of vital importance, and the Government was facing a position in which it was impossible to reduce the taxation from Customs duties to any extent. The best way to deal with the remits was to refer them to the special committee which was to prepare a questionnaire for members of Parliament, to decide what could fairly be asked for and what should temporarily be held over. . This suggestion was adopted. C. W. Price and Co., 91, Dixon street, will sell furniture in the mart, 91, Dixon street, to-morrow, at 1.30 p.m. Kingsways, Ltd., auctioneers, will sell furniture and carpets to-morrow at 1.30 pjn, at their rooms, 78, Lambton guasy