STATE FINANCE

Evening Star, Issue 19840, 13 April 1928, Page 6

STATE FINANCE

MEETING OF POLITICAL PARTIES Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, April 13. (Received April 13, at 11 a.m.) At a joint pre-sessional meeting _of the National and Country parties important financial reforms and new sources of raising revenue were foreshadowed.

The State Treasurer said the tax on liquor sales would be restored, which would mean a considerable increase in revenue. A great saving would also bo effected by separating the control _of the tramways from the railway administration and placing omnibuses under the Transport_ Board, thus eliminating competition with trams. There would be no increase in the income tax.

Explaining the liquor tax, the Treasurer said the liquor license fees would be increased from 2 per cent, to 5 per cent, on liquor sales, thus restoring the tax which was removed by the Lang Administration. Prior to Mr Lung’s amendment 2 per cent, of the tax on liquor sales went to the Treasury, and the other 3 per cent, was paid into a compensation fund in order to meet any claims made as a result of the operations of the Licenses Reduction Hoard. In consequence of the amount m the fund being suliicicut to meet all claims, it was then decided to relieve the liquor interests ol the necessity of paying more into the fund, llui Government was now of opinion that an additional 3 per cent, on sales could be reimposed without victimising liquor consumers.