Page 6 Advertisements Column 3

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18456, 18 January 1922, Page 6

LIQUOR TRAFFIC AIMS T 0 SCOOP £1,500,000. PROFIT ON NEW DUTIES, NOT PAID ON 'SPIRITS. When the liquor traffic got the hint that spirit duties were to be increased, 1 they made haste to get spirits out of bond at the old rate of 18s per gallon before the new duty of 36s was imposed.'. The New Zealand Times of sth January lost carried a statement that “ very little revenue can be expected from spirits for some months to oome, as it is estimated that no less than eighteen months’ or a two years’ supply was thus released from bond.” Taking this to be true, what is the position? In the year 1920 the total imparts of brandy, gin, rum, and whisky were 1,008,095 gallons. Take it as a million gallons for months. Then an eighteen months’ supply is 1,500,000 gallons taken out of bond at. 18s per gallon duty when the Government estimated getting 36s per gallon. This means the revenue will ha down ‘ £1,350,000. On 12tK December the Wellington licensed victuallers had a meeting at which it % was stated that “the increased charge on spirits had been necessitated through, the'extra tariff lately placed on all spirits.” Note, the extra tariff had not been paid. On 16th December an increase of 2s 6d per bottle was announced. The National Executive of the Licensed Trade of New Zealand protested against the increased tariff, which, it said, “must necessarily compel ” an increase in price to the consumer, the “voluntary taxpayer.” Note, the tariff had not been paid at tho increased rate. If eighteen months’ supplies have been taken out at the old rate, then the position is this: According*to whisky makers’ statemonts Ihere are between eight and nine bottles of whisky to the gallon. At eight bottles the tariff adds 2s 3d per bottle; the trade has added 2s fid,-a profit of 2a per gallon on the tax. The tax amounting to £1,350,000 has not been paid. Tha public is to bo made to pay this, plus £150,000 profit on it, making a total profit to the liquor traffic of £1,500,000, not a penny of which will go as new spirit ta* into the revenue. If a two years* supply has been taken out, the ultimate profit will be £2,050,000. The Government will bo so much out on revenue, the public is made to pay more, and the liquor traffic pockets what the Government expected to get, plus its own profit on the new tariff, and sits back chuckling over a-big cash scoop .got at the expense of everybody else —and yet it claims to be a revenue-provider.—N.Z, Alliance Publicity. (21)

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