REDUCTION OPPOSED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 134, 19 March 1931, Page 6

REDUCTION OPPOSED.

/ WAGE TAX ,AS ALTERNATIVE. STATE SERVICE PROPOSAL. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, March 18. Counter proposals in the form of a wage .tax were submitted at a mass meeting held at the Town Hall tonight, called by the State' service organisations to protest against the proposed salary and wage reductions. The attendance was about 2000. Mr M. F. Luckie (ll)eputy-Mayor) presided. The organisations concerned were the New Zealand Educational Institute, the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, the Public Service Association and the Post and Telegraph Association, and respective speakers were Miss Magill, Messrs.. L. Mcllvride, F. W. Millar and J. H. McKenzie.

Tlie counter proposals of the combined service organisations as outlined by Mr Millar were:— (a) A wage tax of sixpence in the £ cn all salaries and wages paid throughout! New Zealand, this to be in tlie/form of a stamp duty, “salary” to include that portion of the income of a professional or business man which is drawn for the living expenses of himself or family! (b) A special tax on unearned income to provide fox* a similar taxation burden. (c) Income tax to be payable on all incomes of £l5O or over with an exemption in the case of a married man of £l5O for his wife, together with existing exemptions. A resolution was carried unanimously denouncing the propose! reductions and! pointing out that the cut of 1922 had never been restored, although in the intervening period Budget surpluses up to £6,000,000 had been shown. , It was also stated that the Prime Minister had, since holding office, said the salaries of the public servants were too low and that the Leader of the Opposition had said that the same Government’s proposals would have the effect of depriving civil servants of the whole of the increase granted in 1920 when the cost of living was on the same level as to-dav.