BEER AND TAXATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 30, 5 February 1935, Page 11

BEER AND TAXATION

EFFECT ON CONSUMPTION. EXPERIENCE IN ENGLAND. The brewing industry in New Zea land has frequently complained of the weight of Government taxation, which, it is claimed, has hindered progress in the trade. Some interesting figures relating to beer consumption in England were quoted at the annual meeting of Ind, Coope and AHsopp, Limited, by Sir George Courthope, chairman of directors, who said that higher taxation had resulted in a serious drop in the consumption of beer since pre-war days. Sir George said that in 1913 'the duty was 7s 9d a standard barrel and the barrelage was over 35,000,006. Taxation steadily increased until in 1931 it amounte<l to 134 s a standard barrel, less a rebate of 20s a bulk barrel. This heavy taxa lion brought the output down from 19.000,000 barrels in 1930 to 17,500.000 barrels in 1931 to 13,500.000 in 1932. In 1933 the, basis of duty was changed. The present duly, although less ruinous than that which it displaced, was still nearly 1 times the pre-war duty. Nevertheless, the modification had had a stimulating influence on output, which for the year ended September 30. 1934, had risen to over 15,000,000