The Inequity of the Petrol Tax.
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Our leading article and comment of last week, inclusive of the table which we prepared to show the annual extra cost in various usual classifications, have been widely quoted during the past week. Supporters of this journal can rest assured that we are taking all possible steps, both by private influence and by the other powere which we possess for the-securing of a hearing, lo help to bring home to the Chancellor of the Exchequer the fact that his contemplated tax upon internal transportation is a mistake. We regard it as a mistake because of its inequitable character, into which charge we went very folly a week ago, but it is also a mistake, from the Chancellor's standpoint, by reason of the fact that it will produce a yield altogether incommensurate with the difficulties and friction that are inseparable from its adoption. Only those Who have knowledge of the labour and expense which attach to the issuing of alcohol by distillers and rectifiers for other than potable uses can appreciate the pitfalls which are threatened, and we can hardly belieye that it is worth while to annoy and harass members of the trading community in all parts of the country for a pitiful net yield which might not exceed, from commercialvehicle sources alone, £:50,000 per annum. We have been at pains to obtain reliable figures of the consumption of motor spirit for all classes of commercial motors, on the 1909 basis of consumption, and we are authoritatively able to state that it will total approximately 9,300,000 gallons in an estimated production and importation of 40,000,000. The gross revenue, at 1y1. per gallon, will not, therefore, exceed Vi8,125, from which total has to be deducted the heavy cost of the inquisitorial enquiries, of an increased departmental staff for inspection purposes,
and of the machinery for the refunding of the excess L'A. which has to be paid in the first instance. We hope arguments and representations will prevail, and that the Chancellor will grant a rebate of 3d. per gallon on the supply of motor spirit to all purchasers who make a prescribed statutory declaration that the fuel is for consumption in commercial motors, existing penalties for any false statements being ample to safeguard both the Customs and the. Excise against fraud. We observe that, in response to questions which were put to him in the House, on Monday last, by Mr. Joynson-Hicks and other members. Mr. Lloyd-George exhibited a willingness to ccrisider the special case of doctors. A still better ease can be presented for the commercial motor.