Mo Support for Sales Tax Protest

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6838, 20 April 1932, Page 3

Mo Support for Sales Tax Protest

PROM EEILDING CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. The resolution protesting against the proposed sales tax, passed by last week’s meeting of the Peilding Borough Council at tho instance of Cr. E. Fair, failed to find support at Monday’s meeting of the Feiiding Chamber ot Commerce when the subject was introduced by Mr. G. J. Fitzpatrick. Members of the Chamber, in discussing the resolution passed by the Borough Council, expressed the view that till; efforts of the Government to balance the country’s budget should not bo interfered with. - Mr. Fitzpatrick said that at the Borough Council meeting it was suggested that the subject was more a matter for the Chamber to deal with and in the absence of Mr. Fair he moved the motion which Mr. J. >S. Tingey seconded. Mr. J. E. Barltrop protested against any movement which tended to interfere with the Government in its endeavour to strengthen the country s finances.

The President, Mr. A. J. Kollow, agreed with this view and said he was sorry that the Borough Council had taken the matter up. The Government had been given a free hand and every proposal it had made to obtain revenue ia order to balance its budget had brought forth a protest. He considered it better to leave the question alone and if any resolution were passed it should be one sympathising with the Government in its difficulties. Mr. C. Hausmanu stated that the tax would not apply to foodstuffs or primary produce. In fact, as far as he could learn, there was nothing in the measure which would burden tlio breakfast table. He agreed with tho view that nothing should bo done to embarrass the Government. If the sales tax did not go through then the Government would have to find some othci means of raising the £1,000,000 which this tax was calculated to produce. Mr. Fitzpatrick explained that he had introduced the subject confident that had Mr. Fair been present he would have taken such action. He was quite prepared to take no further action in regard to tho resolution.

The Alayor (Air. C. E. Taylor) said ho was sorry that the resolution haft been passed by the Borough. Council and recalled that at the Council meeting he had suggested that time be given iu which to consider the proposal. He would have liked Air. Fair to have been present to handle tho motion. Air. Tingey stated that ho had seconded the motion out of respect to Mr. Fair and lie agreed with that gentleman’s statements made at the Borough Council meeting, that the sates tax would increase the cost of living. At the- same time he did not consider it of any use criticising the Government iu other than a constructive manner. In his opinion the sales tax was going to be a terrible nuisance to the business community and its effect would be to raise the cost of living more than the actual impost under the tax itself would.

On being put lo the meeting tlx motion failed to find a supporter.