SAVAGE TAXATION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 57, 17 December 1945, Page 4

SAVAGE TAXATION

DUE TO “BUNGLING AND INCOMPETENCE”

(P.A.) DUNEDIN, This Day. “The average New Zealander has proved himself to' be a person with initiative and courage, and it seems unthinkable that there is a majority in this country who would desire to be brought under the blighting restrictions and restraints of a Socialist State, as will he their fate if . the present trend be brought to fruition,” declared Mr W. S. Dawson, chairman at the annual meeting of the Dunedin Stock Exchange. “The Government’s action in the Bank of New Zealand commandeer is the very' negation of British justice, commercial morality and honest dealing, and must make all holders of property of whatsoever description most apprehensive lest they be victims of the next raid,” he added. “It has been proved conclusively that the people of New Zealand have absolutely no rights which can be invoked to protect their property from acquisition and virtual confiscation by their own Government.” While everybody realised that unavoidable waste could not be eliminated, Mr Dawson said, he had come to the unfortunate conclusion that the amdunt of avoidable waste of public money had been much greater than necessary. Exposures of losses caused by bungling and incompetence in wartime departments as apart from actual service departments proved conclusively that had the country’s affairs been better managed there should have been no need for such savage taxation: