TAILORS AND TAX

Evening Post, Issue 26, 31 January 1935, Page 7

TAILORS AND TAX

MAKING IT DIFFICULT

"BETTER TO PAY"

(By Telegraph-Press Association.)

CHRISTCIIURCIT, January 30,

The decision of certain tailoring firms in Christchurch to suspqnd the payment of sales tax pending reconsideration of the incidence of the tax on the tailoring trade by the Minister of Customs, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, was commented upon by Mr. Coates in a telephone conversation tonight. "I am not going to dispute thenarguments at present," said Mr. Coates, ''because, there is ' a proper method of arranging these matters. I would suggest that it would bo better policy for them to continue paying the tax. That is not a threat, but I had hoped that they would leave the matter in the hands of the Minister, who knows their position intimately, lhc retail, tailoring trade is having a very bad run, and I am very sympathetic with the tailors. Their position is quite exceptional, but if they reach a position in which'they don't pay they arc almost holding out a threat. I know they do not mean it that way, but it may make it more difficult for n.e if they take up an attitude which suggests a stand against making payments."

Inquiries made today show that tho tailors in Christchurch are by no means unanipious in the decision not to pay tho tax, and that some of them realise the serious consequences of refusal.