HARD FACTS OF TAXATION.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 64, 15 March 1924, Page 6

HARD FACTS OF TAXATION.

We invite all who are interested in taxation —and everybody should be —to read the article by "Justice" in this issue. The Prime Minister replied to "Justice," and now "Justice" replies to Mr. Massey. The. chief value of the article lies in its hard facts, carefully collected and marshalled. Generalities and special cases avail nothing against these. "Justice" shows what a small proportion of farmers paid income tax, and therefore that the argument that the tax pressed on tTie small farmer is rubbish. Out of 84,000 farmers in the year 1921-22 only 4000 paid income tax, and of these 4600 more than one-half benefited by the exemption by only £17,700, . while 2035 benefited by £204,000. Moreover, "Justice" points out that these were the figures in the slump year, since when values of wool arid meat liave risen. Further, "Justice" reminds Mr. Massey that according to the Committee on Taxation the farmer, so far from finding all the land tax revenue, contributes only 9-10ths of it. City companies must go on paying both land tax and income tax, while the wealthy farmer is called on to pay only land tax. Indeed, a farmer on leasehold land —and "Justice" cites a case where the rental is low and the wool cheque alone was £20,000 —does not even pay land tax. Mr. Massey described "Justice's" criticims as the sort of thing that might be expected from a Socialist, and encouraged Socialism. "Justice's" retort is to the point—that "there is no greater recruiting force for Socialism than they who stand, advocate, and provide the channel whereby the rich might unload his just burden on to thi} poor."