AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Grey River Argus, 11 April 1945, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

N.S.W. RAINS SYDNEY, April 10. Torrential rain on parts of the south coast and southern tablelands of New South Wales—ranging up to a record fall of almost 19 inches at Araluen —caused floods in some areas yesterday. In Canberra which had its heaviest rain for 20 years, a number of suburban homes were flooded and thousands of sheep were drowned in the district. Health officers hope that the rain will check certain diseases which have shown recent increases. Since the beginning of the year 155 cases of infantile paralysis have been reported in Sydney. HEAVY WAR TIME TAXES ON CONSUMERS’ GOODS (Rec. 10.10) CANBERRA, April 10 Australian smokers and drinkers are paying nearly twice as mu’ch m indirect taxation as they were before the war. In the- current financial year, it is estimated the Government will get ninety-six and a half million pounds from indirect taxation of all types, including customs, excise, and sales tax, campared with £58,749,000 in 1938/39. In the 1943/44 financial year, Australians paid ninety-seven milion pounds in indirect taxation. Most startling war time increases have occurred in the excise charges, which have risen by three hundred to four hundred per cent. Examples quoted by the Treasury to-day were: Beer £7,289,000 in 1938/39 to £21,700,000, this ■ year; spirits, £1 604,000 to £5,300,000 this year; tobacco manufactures, £7,287,000 to £16,500,000. Sales tax has jumped from £9,308,000 to £27,500,000.

HIGH TAXES ON SALES OF RACE HORSES (Rec. 10.0) ' SYDNEY, April 10 About! £160,000 will go to the Commonwealth Taxation Department as the result of the recent yearling sales in Sydney. This is more than twothirds of the total proceeds of the sale. Most of the breeders are in the highest income class, retaining for themselves only Is 6d in the pound. The Federal Treasurer. Mr. Chifley, said to-day that one breeder told him that, out of one thousand pounds he received for a yearling, the Taxation Department took. £875. ,