THE PETROL TAX

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 63, 16 March 1933, Page 12

THE PETROL TAX

AMBULANCE' EXEMPTION f

Confidence that the Government would give careful consideration to tho representations "made on behalf of the service for exemption from the extra petrol tax was expressed by the chairman, Mr. C. J. B. Norwood, at today's meeting of the AVellington Free Ambulance Board.

. Reporting on the discussion between a deputation representing tho "board and the St. John Ambulance Association and the Minister of Customs, Mr. G. Mitchell said it had been urged that the service should be placed in at least the same category for exemption purposes as fishermen, farmers, and •aero clubs. The service had no way of passing on the tax, which really amounted to a tax on the suffering. Altogether the taxation imposed on the board.amounted to between £300 and £400 a year at the present time-. It was also pointed out that the service very matorially reduced ' the amount levied by the Hospital Board, and as the Government paid half that amount the direct relief afforded the Government ran into several hundreds of pounds a year. Mr. Coates had given them a sympathetic hearing and ■ had promised to look into the matter. Up to the present, however, there had been no further word from him.

• Another member of the deputation, Mr. J. H. Whittaker, said the Minister seemed to think the difficulty would be to reopen the subject in the House. Mr. D. J. McGowan: He opened it for the fishermen.

Mr. Whittaker: Surely he could see we' were just as deserving of assistance as the fishermen. I fail to see how ho could differentiate between our work and that of tho fishermen, who, of course, in the long run get some compensation.

The chairman said that the whole of the ambulance service.was absolutely free and non-profit making, and much of the revenue was drawn from people who could ill afford to make donations. While appreciating tho difficulty of opening up further avenues of relief, he believed that the Government would see the justice of the representations made and would find a way to help.