WAR TAXATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 72, 25 March 1915, Page 7

WAR TAXATION.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Mr. Massey has stated that shipping freights have risen considerably. We are all aware that the wages of the wharf and maritime workers have not been increased. Extra profits to the shipping companies have been made possible by the dispatching of troops and produce; but mostly by the Navy keeping the sea routes open and safe. If it had been otherwise tae steamers would have cost the companies much mohey to maintain at anchorage and they would not have been earning anything. As they have reaped profits on public expenditure and by actual services rendered by the Navy a special tax on their tonnage and first-class passenger fares would only be a small return on public outlay. The underwriters might also be touched without injustice, as they are receiving profits from the same public expenditure. The same reasons apply in favour of a tax on exports, plus a rise in the land tax for low railway rates, subsidies, land values, and other concessions. It has never been suggested that the owners of racehorses should be taxed, or the horses' corn, but only that a further 2A per cent should bo gathered from the 10 per cent on the large sums that go through the tote. As to the beer tax. there is still a large margin of profit that can stand a squeeze without increasing the price of the hilarious liquid to "the consumer. The banks, too. notably the Bank of New Zealand, have received financial benefits ' that really amount to indebtedness to the State. All the above-mentioned are | monopolies which are enjoying privileges quite out of proportion to those conferred on the average citizen. TRc i taxation of them will not decrease employment or the purchasing power of the people. But it remains to be seen if the present Government has the courage to touch such powerful interests.—l am, etc.. G. McKNTGHT.