Amusement Tax

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 86, 16 August 1923, Page 5

Amusement Tax

EXEMPTION UP TO SHILLING. FURTHER RELIEF NEXT YEAR. Per Press Association. Wellington, August 15. The second rencli.no; of the Amusement Tax Amendment Bill wa? moved by the Premier in the House this afternoon. Mr Massr-v said it was proposod to exempt all amusements where the charge was one shilling or under from tax. This would mean that the greater part of the revenue from this source would be cut out. He would like to have been able to wipe out the amusement tax altogether, but the Government had to find a good deal of money for various .purposes. He hoped next session to be able to repeal the who!? tax. - Mr L. M. Isitt ;'_hristchurrh North.) said he was sorry to sPe the remission proposed. Tt was the principal means by which thousands of young men contributed to the ~aneral revenue of the country. Other members supported the Bill as a move in the right direction, but Mr W. E. Parry (Auckland Central) urged that people who attend ed sports and amusements should have the benefit of the remissions assured to them by a corresponding reduction in charges. He pointed out that Racing Clubs had added the tax to their admission charges, with an ajddition of fouiponee for each person, so that they were actually benefiting by the tax. The Bill was read a second time without a division. In committee on the Bill, Mr H. E. Holland (Buller) pointed out that the benefit of the Bill would be very limited, as there wore very few theatres in which' the charge was so low as a shilling. He suggested the exemption bung rised to 2s 6d, or at leasit Is 6d. ,Mr Massey said he was informed the benefit would be very considerable and the department expected to loso £40,000 per annum by the change. He could not do more at present, but ho hoped to do more next year. The Bill passed the committee stage unamended, was read a third time and passed.