LONG DEBATE ENDS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 697, 25 February 1933, Page 9

LONG DEBATE ENDS.

Customs Bill Passed by House. PETROL AND TOBACCO DUTIES. (“Star” Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, February 25. Sitting throughout the night, the House at 6.30 this morning passed the Customs Amendment Bill, which provides for an increased duty on petrol of twopence a gallon, increased Customs and Excise duties of eightpence a pound on cut and plug tobacco and increased Customs and Excise duies of one halfpenny a pound on sugar. The petrol tax monopolised the debate, which had dragged a long and weary course before the Finance Minister’s announcement of a reduction of one penny a gallon in the originally proposed duty. The only other concession given was the exemption of commercial fishing boats and aeroplanes from the additional twopence tax. The alteration, which was approved by 35 votes to 20, saw only one Government member, Mr A. M. Samuel (Thames) in the Opposition lobby. Mr A. E. Ansell (Chalmers), who spoke against the increased petrol tax, voted with the Government. In the case of tobacco duties, however, four Coalitionists joined Labour to support an amendment moved by Mr K. J. Holyoake (Coalition, Motueka) designed to increase the amount of protection on the New Zealand product by eightpence an ounce. The proposal was rejected by 31 votes to 24, Government members associating with Mr Holyoake being Messrs J. N. Massey (Franklin), J. Connolly (Mid-Canter-bury and G. R. Sykes (Masterton). The increase in the sugar duty was approved by 36 votes to 20, and the gold export duty by 35 votes to 20, Mr Samuel again voting with the Opposition. Introduced early in the evening the measure was under the second reading consideration until 4 a.m., and the committee stages extended over two hours and a half, the third reading being agreed to by 37 votes to 18. The House is now in adjournment until Tuesday, when the Finance Bill will be introduced. Replying to the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Holland), the Prime Minister said that the House might be able to deal with Local Bills on Tuesday afternoon. Mr Holland: Do you propose to go on with the Central Reserve Bank Bill this session? The Prime Minister: That will depend on the work we have in hand. Answering a further question, Mr Forbes said that it was intended to put the Education Amendment Bill through this session. No Escape for Crude Oil. (“Star” Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, February 25 The attitude of the Government towards the taxation of crude oil was defined by Mr Coates in the House this morning, when speaking during the committee stages of the Customs Amendment Bill. Mr Coates declared that it was not the intention of the Government to consider taxation of crude oil for shipping services in relation to crude oil used for other purposes. The position at present was difficult. So far, the Government had not been able to discover a satisfactory method of taxing crude oil and power kerosene, but that it must be undertaken was beyond question. Mr M’Combs: Why tax everything? The Minister: Because it is becoming a definite competitor with petrol. People are able to use other petrol commodities to replace petrol itself. Mr Sullivan: Are you going to tax bachelors? Mr Coates, referring to the taxation of crude oil, said that until the scheme had been properly worked out and considered to be fair, equitable and efficient, he would prefer to allow the matter to rest where it stood to-day. Mr M’Combs: It will stay there for-