THE TAXATION BILL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 247, 29 July 1943, Page 5

THE TAXATION BILL.

MEASURE PASSES THE HOUSE. j (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 28. Speaking in the second reading debate on ijie I,and and Income Tax (Annual) Bill in the House to-niglit, Mr W. A. Bodkin (Opposition, Central Otago) emphasised the part that private enterprise .would play in post-war rehabilitation plans. He contended that it should be a matter of Government- policy to get behind private enterprise, and see that when the time came private enterprise was not stultified, for unless it were in a remarkably healthy condition after the war it would not be in a position to expand and provide for the labour that would then be available. It would also be essential that, primary industry should be in a position to meet the immediate- demands for increased production. Mr W. J. Poison (Opposition, Stratford) said that provision was made for municipalities to set aside reserves to enable them to tackle work that could be done under war conditions, and he suggested that a similar provision should be made, in tho interests of farmers. The Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. J. G. Barclay) said that only when very high incomes wore reached did direct taxation in Now Zealand become higher than in Britain; but even then it was much below the Australian rate. The Minister of Finance (tho Hon. W. Nash), in reply, quoted the increase in payments made by the Government for social services, health, education, and pensions, and asked whether the Opposition would reduce any taxation or any expenditure on any of those things. If so, which benefits would they take away? The Bill was read a second time, was put through tho committee stages, road a third time, and passed without amendment or further discussion.