Feilding Protests Against Sales Tax

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6834, 15 April 1932, Page 6

Feilding Protests Against Sales Tax

WILL INFLICT HARDSHIP. AND INCREASE COST OF LIVING At last cvfining’s, meeting of the Feilding Borough Council, Cr. E. Fair referred to the proposal of the Government to introduce a sales tax and he invited tho council to support"liis motion registering an emphatic protest against the measure. He.contended that tho operation of such a tax would inflict untold hardship on those with families, who were facing difficulties enough at the present time. Further it would be a tax on all retail business and as such would be a tax on a losing business, which would be quite unjust. Again his considered opinion of the measure was that it would increase the cost of living at a time when salary and wage earners were suffering drastic cuts. Every retailer was facing particularly lean times and the speaker was convinced that the proposed tax would definitely increase the cost of living, lie moved that the council record its protest against the measure on tho lines indicated. The Mayor (Mr. C. E. Taylor) said ho would have liked to have seconded tho motion had he known moro about the proposal. It was rather an unusual matter for a council to take up. He would like time to inquire into the position. Cr. Fair said he thought no time should bo lost in registering a protest. Ho would like tho protest to go in right away. Cr. A. 11. Maguire seconded the motion which was supported by Cr. S. D. Pearce, -who agreed with the mover that the tax would inflict undue hardship. The motion was then carried unanimously. ...

Amount of Tax Not Yet Fixed IMPOSITION AT SOURCE. Special to Times. WELLINGTON, Last Night. It is now practically certain that the sales tax legislation which the Government proposes to introduce—perhaps tomorrow—will follow fairly closeiy the lines of the New South Wales system, the charge being imposed at the source —between the wholesaler and the retailer. Tho amount of tho tax has not yet been determined, but is likely to be 2A per cent., and it will not be surprising if a considerable range of items, including foodstuffs, is exempted.

Tlic tax will be the subject of separate ' legislation, and will not be included in the Finance Bill. The two aspects which the Government will have in mind are the cost of living and an endeavour to partially make up serious decreases in Customs revenue from the turnover of New Zealand manufactures. Elasticity will be the keynote of the legislation. It is gathered from inquiries in official circles that the utmost earo will be taken in the legislation to see that the cost of living is not increased as far as necessaries are concerned. In addition to foodstuffs in common use, agricultural requirements are likely to be included in the list of exemptions. One authority discussing the projected legislation remarked that with such Bills the schedule of exemptions invariably outweighed considerably the list of items subject to the tax.

A Gazette announces that Mr. John George Lewis Hewitt, stipendiary magistrate of Marton, has been appointed a member of the Government Railways Appeal Board and chairman of the board. Messrs 11. Akers and T. D. Lynch, members of the Makerua Drainage Board, resumed their seats at yesterday’s meeting of the board and were accorded a welcome. Members expressed the hope that their recovery from recent illnesses were complete. We acknowledge the receipt of £25 for the Mayor’s Unemployment Fund from Messrs “Wally” Ingram and M. J. O’Brien. Mr. Ingram it was who sold Mr. O’Brien the winning ticket in the “Lucky Strike” art union, and like true sports both gentlemen have contributed £l2 10s each towards a most deserving cause. The £l2 10s contributed by Mr. Ingram was his commission on the sale of the winning ticket, and this generous action follows on many “free hair cuts” for those in a loss fortunate position than himself.

“There is nothing new under the sun!” Dr. Brown, a scientist from Amsterdam, has recently given a demonstration at the Dominion Laboratory of the manufacture of artificial silk from Now Zealand flax. It may be news to many readers, and to Dr. Browm (says the Auckland Star) that more than a quarter of a century ago a bale of flax was sent to Japan from a mill m the King Country, operating not many miles from Te Kuiti. The flax was shortly afterwards returned in the shape of beautiful hanks of artificial silk, together with a piece of material woven from the flax, which seemed equal in appearance to the finest silk. The proprietor of the mill had the material made into a gown for his wife, and it was, for a tinie the admiration of her friends in Hamilton.

PULMONAS WHEN TRAVELLING. Take Pulmonas with you when you travel. One dissolved in the mouth every hour or two gives suro protection against the infection which lurks in crowded carriages and cars. Pulmonas pastilles aro easy to tako and are packed in handy tins which take up ilittlo room in your bag.