THE AMUSEMENT TAX

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 50, 28 February 1918, Page 6

THE AMUSEMENT TAX

CASE OF A. ANX> P. SOCIETIES.

DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER. Passa Issociatiok.| i WELLINGTON, Feb. 27. A deputation representing the Council of Agriculture waited upon the -Minister of Finance to-day, to ask that •agricultural and pastoral associations should be relieved of the payment of amusement-tax.

Mr F'. W. Williams, president of the conference, said that the application of the tax to associations meant only £ISOO to £2OOO to the Government, but it would force some of the smaller organisations out of existence. The deputation did not ask for the lifting of the tax on side-shows.

Sir Joseph Ward, in replying, said the tax could not be altered at present, since the consent of Parliament would fee required. If the tax as it affected agricultural and pastoral associations did not. produce more than £ISOO a year, he would be prepared to give favourable consideration to the request for v its- removal, but if the revenue produced was larger, say £IO,OOO, there could be no question of abandoning it without imposing another taxation in its place.; He felt, as Minister of Finance, that he could not consent to loss of revenue at the present time. He would be glad it it were possible to place all taxation on a broad basis, but the prime. necessity was the obtaining of the millions the Government required. If 'the end of the war came twelve months hence, New Zealand would have to face increased liability for interest on loans amounting to seven millions per annum. The people generally were responding magnificently to the demands made upon them for war taxation. The 'Minister promised to see that the basis of the amusement-tax as it affected associations was the same in all cases. There have been various interpretations of the Act in the past.