ANTI-EXPLOITATION MEASURE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume L, Issue 14698, 1 September 1915, Page 6

ANTI-EXPLOITATION MEASURE.

MEMBERS CRITICISE THE TAX. - PROMISE- OF RECONSIDERATION. (By Telegraph.—Special to “Herald,”) WELLINGTON, August 31. The Government’s special legislation,; designed to’ check exploitation over the’ new duty on mineral oils, was put through the House” of Representatives this afternoon. The bill was only passed at the urgent request of the Government, a number of speakers criticising the tax itself as being too burdensome upon a large number of people unable to afford it. This strong current of hostility was diverted to some extent by a promise that the .National Cabinet would re-open the question of the mineral oil tax. . The measure, which is entitled to the Regulation of Trade and Commerce ■ Amendment Bill, No. 2, sets out in its ' preamble that it is desirable to fix a maximum price for the sale of all mineral oil which has been imported free of duty on or before August 26th, 1915, and thereby to prevent the imposition of sucli duties from being used as a pretext for an unjustifiable increase in the price of such merchandise. The act covers kerosene, motor spirit, benzine, coal benzine, benzol, petrol, gasoline, petroleum ethers, •and petroleum spirits, and includes all 1 mineral oils and mineral spirits similar to any of the forgoing. 1 MAXIMUM PRICE FIXED.

The Act is to be deemed to • operate from September Ist., and its most important clause defines the term “maximum price” as follows; —“Tlje maximum price of refined mineral oil imported into Now Zealand within the; meabihg of the Customs Act, 193,3, oil or-before the 26th day of August ,1915,., shall be 1 lie current price at which goods of the same nature and quality were saleable' in' the Same locality oh the 20t*ii day of August; 1915, if sold in the same quantity, find on the same terms as to payment, delivery, aiid otherwise.” , . . Another clause provides that, if any refined mineral oil imported before August 26th is delivered tq a '.purchaser in pursuance of a contract of sale made since that day, and before, 'the commencement of this Act, the purchaser shall be entitled to obtain from the seller a: refun I of any, sum by which the price paid for the oil so the maximum price of refined mineral oil as determined by this Act. The onus of proving that oil was imported after August: 26th is laid upon the seller.