HIGHER CUSTOMS RETURNS

Southland Times, Issue 24114, 1 May 1940, Page 2

HIGHER CUSTOMS RETURNS

LARGE INCREASE IN REVENUE

APRIL FIGURES FOR INVERCARGILL

A substantial increase in the Customs revenue in Invercargill for last month compared with the same month last year is shown in the April returns prepared by the Customs Department. The figures were as follows:— 1939 1940 £ £ Customs 11,459 17,176 Beer 254 237 Sales tax 3,692 3,416 Petrol 6,933 6,846

RISE IN BEER DUTY RETURNS

LARGE INCREASE RECORDED AT DUNEDIN

(United Press Association)

DUNEDIN, April 30. An increase of nearly £40,000 in the Customs revenue collected at the port of Otago was recorded in the past month as compared with that for April of last year, the respective totals being £161,598 and £121,757. Customs duties accounted for £9435 of this increase, but the most notable rise was that collected in beei’ duty, which this month totalled £45,356, compared with only £25,543 during April 1939. An interesting increase was that in sales tax. This month £29,412 was collected from this tax compared with only £27,371 in April of last year, an increase of £2041. As was to be expected because of the petrol restrictions, petrol tax revenue showed a decrease during the month of £3092, and tyre tax a drop of £139. Gold duty amounted to practically the same figure as in April 1939. The following are the figures for this month and for April 1939:—

TOTALS (including miscellaneous revenue) 161,598 121,757 SLIGHT INCREASE RECORDED CHRISTCHURCIT RETURN (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, April 30.

INCREASED REVENUE AT WELLINGTON (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 30. The net Customs revenue collected at the port of Wellington in April shows an increase of £17,229, compared with April 1939. This increase, however, is due entirely to the inclusion of approximately £51,000 from duty on motor spirit at 8d a gallon, compared with about £27,000 at 4d a gallon in April 1939. The net revenue for the month, excluding the motor spirit tax, is therefore about £7OO below the figure for last April. The war tax in April amounted to £33,656, compared with £30,943 in March and £27,701 in February. The figures for the past month, with those for April 1939 given for compari-

LARGER YIELD FROM CUSTOMS DUTY (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, April 30. Decreases in motor spirit, tyre duty and sales tax collections are shown in the April Customs return, but there were increases in the yield from Customs duty and excise on beer. The receipts for this month compai'e with

Customs duties' 1940 £ 59,761 1939 £ 50,326 Beer duty 45,356 25,543 Sales tax 29,412 27,371 Petrol tax 12,643 15,735 Tyre tax 398 537 Gold duty 1,057 1,071

The Christchurch Customs returns for April show a slight increase in the amount of duty collected, the total being £159,267, compared with £155,675 for the same month last year. The most notable feature of the returns was the increase in beer duty, which rose from £9979 in April 1939 to £16,275 this month. There was a decrease of £4934 in petrol tax collections and Customs duties on imported goods fell from £77,821 to £75,507 (month of April). Following are the returns for this month, with the figures for the corresponding month last year given for comparison:— 1939 1940 £ £ Customs 77,821 75,507 Beer 9,979 16,275 Petrol tax 26,819 21,885 Tyre tax 387 784 Sales tax 38,926 38,065 Light dues 218 162 . Wool levy 473 268 Meat levy 1,014 — Hides levy — 69 Miscellaneous 38 6,252 TOTALS 155,675 159,267

son, are:— 1940 1939 £ £ Net Customs revenue 282,088 264,859 Sales tax 101,954 120,833 Beer excise duty 9,987 6,524 Motor spirit duty at 6d a gallon 38,466 1,757 41,202 Tyre tax 1,745

April 1939, as follows: 1940 £ 1939 £ Customs 284,153 258,866 Motor Spirit 63,282 73,985 Tyre Duty 2,445 2,828 Excise on Beer 30,896 16,647 Sales tax 90,445 95,428