CUSTOMS BILL PASSES

Wanganui Chronicle, 3 October 1946, Page 5

CUSTOMS BILL PASSES

(P.A.) Parliament Bldgs., Oct. 2. In the House of Representatives tonight, the Minister of Customs, Mr. Nash, speaking to the second reading of the Customs Amendment Bill, explained that the reason for the reduction in gold duty was to enable quartz mines to work less payable ores. In the case of the Waihi mine it was expected to extend the life of the mine from two years to terj, or more, years. Mr. K. J. Holyoake (Opp., Pahiatua) said the same principle applied to millions of acres of marginal land. Mr. Nash said there would not be much argument on the Government side of the House against any measures that would bring marginal land into production. Mr. W. J. Polson (Opp., Stratford) referring to ■■• emission of sales tax on some items, said the public would still be dissatisfied tliat the Government had not risen to the opportunity to remove completely a form of taxation which lor years it had condemned. If the Government had been true to its principles It would have done away with the sales tax long ago. The Bill was put through all stages and passed.