BUDGET PROPOSALS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CIII, Issue 15743, 30 August 1915, Page 4

BUDGET PROPOSALS.

ITEMS CRITICISED. BEER AND SPIRITS TAX. (Fhom Our Speciai Correspondent.) Naturally the Government's Budget proposals have been the subject of considerable gossip in the lobbies. The proposals on the whole appear to have given a considerable measure of satisfaction, so far as several of the sources of increased revenue are concerned. .Not a little criticism, however, is being indulged in, in respect to two or three of the proposed Customs and Excise charges. The country members find considerable. fault with the intention to impose a duty of -Id per gallon on motor spirits and kerosene. The proposed tax on motor spirits, it is declared, will press severely not only on the owners of motor ears, at whom it may be presumed to be chiefly aimed, but also on farmers who use petrol largely for the working of milking machines. "'With the present scarcity of labour, ' said one member, "milking machines are coming more and more into use, and the tax on petrol will be a substantia] extra burden."

Another country member expresses concern on account of the large number of fishermen and others who depend for their living to a. large extent on tho use of motor launches. Some of these men, he says, use a case of petrol per day, and tho duty that they would have to pay. ho declared, would amount to no less than between £4O aud £OO a year.

The tax on kerosene is likewise criticised by country representatives, who stigmatise it as a tax upon tho light of the country settler. This item appears to be more in disfavour even than tho impost on petrol. It seems apparent that many members will have something to say about oil during the coming Budget discussions. The proposals in regard to the taxation on beer and spirits has also given rise to many expressions of dissatisfaction, and a number of members have indicated their intention of strongly criticising this porton of the Budn-et"-soine even going to the extent of declaring their intention of "holding up" these items. It i.s urged that tho inciease in duty on beer should be much greater than that proposed, especially as, so the critics contend, the increased change could not very well be passed on to the man who calls for his "-lass of ale across the counter. °

Another criticism is levelled against the proposed method of lewing* the extra charge on beer, it being argued that it is too much in favour of™the light ales, such as are brewed in Auckland, as against heavier beers such as those manufactured in Dunedin. The increase of only Is in the duty on spirits is another subiect of complaint, it being urged that instead of an increase from 16s to 17s, it should have been advanced to sav 20s per gallon.