THE AMUSEMENT TAX.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11474, 28 February 1918, Page 4

THE AMUSEMENT TAX.

PROTEST FROM A. AND P. ASSOCIATIONS. Per Press Association. Wellington, Feb. 27. A deputation representing the Council of Agriculture waited upon {.ho Minister of Finance to-dny to ask that agricultural and pastor al associations should be relieved of the payment of the Amusement Tax. Mr F. W. Willi inns, president of the conference, said the application of the tax to the associations meant only £iboo to £2OOO to the Government, but would force some of the smaller organisations out of existence. The deputation did not ask for the lifting of the tax’ on side show s.

Sir Joseph, replying, said the tax could not be altered at prfsent, since the consent of Parliament would be required. If the tax as it affected argicultural and pastoral associations’did not produce more than £I2OO n voar lie would be prepared to give favourable consideration to the request for its removal, but if the revenue produced was larger, say £IO,OOO, there could _bo no question of abandoning it without imposing other taxation in its place. Ho ' felt, as Minister of Finance, that ho could not consent to a loss of revenue at the .present time. He would bo glad if it were possible to place all taxation on a broad basis, but the prime necessity was obtaining the millions the Government required. It the end ot the war came twelve months hence, New Zealand would have to face an increased liability for interest on war loans of £7,000,000 per annum. People generally were responding magnificently to the demands made upon them for war taxation. The Minister premised to see that the hi sis of the Amusement Tax as it affected associations was the seme interpretation of the Act in i,^ ie past.