TAX ON COAL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11250, 30 June 1922, Page 7

TAX ON COAL

STRONG PROTEST FROM WESTPORT DEPUTATION TO WAIT OX PRIME ill NIST ER. PfR kSSOfUTT^N*. W ;> l P» »HT, June 29. At a rpuroM-RM’ivo nicotine ia i lie Town H.di to-night. tho Mayor (Mr Mcnz'o p:v.-.di? r :. a : h:<!i‘ tr. ‘ Govt-rnrsH n:*> iruped- :: >n vi a tax r>: -H per "i-n on coal, and it was it.- >!ve<! — “That i iii- public meeting of citizens of Wc-i:*ort eiuvhatically protects ngain<t the i.utir?: <•: the Government in a v c. : 1 v rate of 9 1 per t-m on coal o.x; ■ ::o:m Wr-tport in order that the a: V export may bo tlio same at <iievn;. uth. The po:ts ci Grey ii'.ci::n and W carport are on an entirely w Micreiit :cotins. for whereas the endowment?, i*. i:e Orpvmouth llarlxvjr Hoard are piarueallv worthless owing to tlio clc-uie «.f the Brunner mine, tho i’i(V.iYnv:i'.;<i oi the Westport Harbour Board arc- as vaiunide at any period. that it is au'-* ur.wi-o t_) penalise one of our primary Industrie- at the presect time, as the only way in which the Dominion c:-n meet its* liabilities Is by increasing production, and it is felt that ths extra charge on coal will seriously interfere with tho mines in the Buller district, and may lead to a reduction in the output from them. The citizens of Westport hope that the Government will reconsider this matter and will not continue the imposition of this charge.’* Copies of this resolution are to be sent to the Prime Minister, member for the district (Mr I?. P. Hudson, M.P.), and tiie Hon. W. H. Mclntyre. It was also decided to send a deputation to Wellington to meet the Prime Minister.