THE SALES TAX

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18990, 15 April 1936, Page 15

THE SALES TAX

ABOLITION SOUGHT VIEWS OF RETAILERS “Since the election the Government has not disclosed anything further as t< its intentions toward the sales tax, according to the annual report of the Federation of Drapers, Clothiers ami Boot Retailers. “The revenue collected from this source in 1935 was £2,389.939. an increase of 12.9 per cent over the 1934 figure. “The magnitude of this sum must weigh both with those who seek tin abolition of the tax and those who favour its retention, and one ot the diffi cnities to be overcome by the former will be the one undoubtedly confronting tin Government of collecting a amount bv any other means. 'I lmro r no doubt that the tax has been -afeen tirelv obnoxious one from the viewpoint of the retail trader. “A material reduction in the rate n! fax or its entire abolition will he.ft hi desire of the whole commercial coin munity, and we suggest that our oigan isatioii should co-operate with the Chamber of Commerce and other sections oi the retail trade in endeavouring to attain our objective." “The report expresses the federation sympathy ’with the Government’s desire to improve the standard of living ol lower-paid workers. At the same time it points out that the legislative programme announced cannot fail to raise all costs of production and distribution, and until it is disclosed to what extent costs will be raised and how far higher costs can be reflected in prices without restricting the volume of trade anxiety will continue to be felt.”