TAXATION OF LIQUOR

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1930, Page 9

TAXATION OF LIQUOR

EFFECT QN RETAIL TRADE. By Telegraph.— Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The new spirits price list in Wellington and district will be issued tomorrow and will come into operation forthwith. Case spirits will advance Is 6d a bottle. There will be no change in the price of draught spirits and the increase of the beer duty will have no effect on retail prices. Mr. P. Coyle, official representative of tho Licensed Victuallers’ Association, to-day said that smaller bottles of ease spirits would advance in proportion. Representations had been made to the Government pointing out that an investigation had indicated that the recent increase in the duty was not likely to have the effect of increasing the revenue. In the event of any modification of the tariff proposals respecting the liquor trade it would be only too pleased to give the public the benefit of any reduction. Asked if leading Seoteh whiskey firms were likely to establish branches in New Zealand for bottling purposes similar to those established in Australia Mr. Coyle said he was not in a position to state the intentions of the firms concerned.

Referring to the beer duty Mr. Coyle said the Budget estimated the revenue for the current year at £615,000, against £622,935 last year, a decrease of nearly £BOOO. Practically four months of the financial year had gone in which the old duty had operated. . If last year’s output was maintained the increase of a halfpenny a gallon would produce £27.000 approximately. In the face of those figures either the Minister was anticipating a lean period or was budgeting for a surplus, said Mr. Coyle.