HEAVY TAX ON BEER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21401, 27 January 1933, Page 9

HEAVY TAX ON BEER

LESS CONSUMPTIONBRITAIN'S " ALARMING DECLINE " [from our own correspondent] LONDON. Dec. fi The duty on beer in Britain is nearly fifteen timss more than it was before the war. The position is now being reviewed by the tr.ide with the greatest concern, and it is strongly argued that if disaster is to be averted the Government r/iust at the earliest moment give relief from a crushing burden. Sir Edgar Sanders, director of the Brewers' Society, in an interview, said as the result ot' the alarming decline in the consumption of beer, the Chancellor will cet six million pounds less than he budgeted for. He said that this over-tax-ation is bringing the whole trade to a point of exhaustion, and at the : same time gravely imperilling dependent interests. . The fnl ling-off in consumption, in tlio opinion of Sir Edgar, will continue in an exaggerated form, expressing itseli in th® following directions Decreased incometax and ether taxes and rates, from profits of the trade; losses on surtax and death duties; increasing unemployment; heavy losses for growers of barley _. hops'and maltsters; depreciation of exu t ing stocks of raw materials; decreased demands for transport, trade. . - ■ ••I regEi'd it as a bad national t>usi » ■ I TTrltr-ii- "if we are content °Sis that iu»st beviation."