PRIMAGE DUTY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18350, 22 August 1929, Page 8

PRIMAGE DUTY.

PROPOSED INCREASE. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PROTESTS. The proposed increase in the primage duty, as proposed by the Government, w’as briefly discussed by the Council of the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce last night. The subject was introduced by a report from the Emergency Committee, which stated that immediately after the presentation of the Budget, the committee convened a meeting of local importers to consider the Minister’s decision to increase the primage duty from one to tw’o per cent. A resolution was carried unanimously, and embodied in the following telegram to the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New’ Zealand: "South Canterbury Chamber considers Budget should be balanced by reductions In expenditure rather than the imposition of taxes, and therefore objects to any Increase in taxation especially the proposed primage duty.” The increase in primage duty w’as treated as emergency business, by reason of the fact that It became effective immediately, and the Minister's proposals in regard to land tax on rural lands were held over for consideration by the full Council. The president (Mr F. S. Shrimpton) said that judging by reports, opinion seemed to be evenly divided on the matter. Mr J. Anstey said that he entirely disagreed with the resolution, for it was impossible and futile to ask the Government to balance the Budget by reducing expenditure. They all knew the seriousness of the unemployment problem, and if there w’as to be a great reduction in expenditure, it must involve the discharge of a number of hands, who would be throw’n on to the unemployment market. The Government might save a bit in wages, but it would have to find money for the extra batch of unemployed. The extra money was required to get over the difficulty of the accumulated back deficiency, and to avoid a similar trouble in the future. He did not see how it would be possible to accumulate money to meet this deficiency. Without further discussion the committee’s report was adopted.