THE PRIMAGE TAX.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20786, 3 August 1929, Page 21

THE PRIMAGE TAX.

QUESTIONS TO MINISTER. , : (From Gun Special Reporter.) .? .. ( WELLINGTON, Abgust 2. It has not taken members long to get into their stride with questions bearing on the; Budget proposals of the Minister of Finance (Sir Joseph Ward). In the House of Representatives to-day Mr J.'Bitchener (Waitaki) gave notice to ask the Minister if He ’ would make provision’for exemption from the extra primage duty proposed on all goods landing for local body contractors who had entered into contracts on the basis of the -Fper cent, primage duty; Mr Bitchener emphasised that many contractors had lately entered into contracts on the basis of the then existing cost?,-and now might be seriously embarrassed finahiially. ’ Indirect reference to the taxation proposals was; made by Mr W. E. Barnard (Napier), who gave notice to ask the Alinistcr whether the provisions of -section’ 51 of the Land and'lncome Tax Act, 1923, providing for the imposition of 50 per cent, additional land tax upon unimproved land as defined in the same section, -had - been consistently , enforced, or whether the. sccfion had been allowed to become entirely inoperative. The replies of the Minister of Finance will be circulated iu due course.