PETROL TAX REFUNDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19859, 1 February 1928, Page 12

PETROL TAX REFUNDS.

PROCEDURE NOT KNOWN. COMPLAINT OF DELAY. CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] x MASTERTON. Tuesday. Information as to the procedure to be followed in obtaining refunds of petrol tax is being sought by owners of stationary and other engines in respect of which exemption is granted under the Act of last session. Mr. J. H. Handyside, local manager of tlie New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Distributing Company, stated to-day that he had been receiving many inquiries on the subject of petrol tax refunds, but had not been ablo to obtain any definite information. He had received the following reply to an inquiry addressed to one of the supplying firms "We are sorry to tell you that we can give you no definite advice as to what means will bo adopted in refunding the petrol tax to clients who are exempted. The matter is entirely in the hands oi' the Government and will not be any concern of ours. As far as we can ascertain at present, although no official information is available, refunds will be made by either the Customs Department or the Internal Affairs Department upon users applying for such refunds as they are entitled to receive. We therefore suggest that you recommend any clients to get in tDUch with either the Customs Department or the Internal Affairs Department." Considering that petrol arriving in the Dominion as long ago as the hiiddle of December had paid tax, Mr. Handyside said it might have been expected that the procedure to be followed in obtaining refunds would have bean laid down before now. Tho simplest and most effective arrangement would be to allow firms like his own to claim refunds on behalf of their clients. A better check would be provided in this way than if every user of non-taxable petrol were required to claim refunds individually. Under a system of individual claims, either only a nominal check would be imposed on the use of non-taxable petrol or a very costly and cumbersome procedure would have to be adopted. On the other hand, by allowing firms to deal with the details the Governmei.-l could, at no great cost, exercise an effective general supervision. In any case, Mr. Handyside observed, the Government .should without delay indicate the procedure it proposed to follow in dealing with petrol tax exemptions.