WHERE TAXATION HURTS

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 162, 11 July 1928, Page 14

WHERE TAXATION HURTS

WEALTHY FARMERS ESCAPE

MAM OF FEOFXJB PAT.

SHEEPOWNERS' ENORMOUS PROFIT

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, Tuesday.

. In a slashing attack on the Government, Mr. E. A. Ransom (Pahiatua)showed in the House this afternoon how the graduated scale of taxation on annual incomes operated to the great advantage of wealthy sheepowners.

One well-known Wairarapa sheepowning family, whom Mr. Ransom named (the Riddeford family) had, it was estimated, made an additional £20,000 as a direct result of the rise of 4£d in the price of wool last season. Yet that family, said Mr. Hanson, had. not been required to pay a single penny extra in taxation!

The statement was greeted with murmurs of protest from Labour members, and there was complete silence on the Reform side of the House.'

"What about the unemployed?" asked Mr. W. E. Parry (Auckland Central). For answer there was a burst of ironical laughter.

Mr. Ransom declared that Reform's alleged policy of placing the burden of taxation on the shoulders best able to bear it had been honoured im the breach rather than in the observance. Wherever taxation touched the pockets of the mass of the people there had.been an increase, but wherever it touched the pockets of the wealthy there had been a decrease. In 1918 Customs and excise duties were 29.18 of the consolidated revenue, but in 1927 the percentage was 51.71.

The Minister of Customs (Hon. W. Downie Stewart): Go back to 1911 and, 1914!

Reform laughter and cries of "Ah!"

Mr. Ransom: I am quoting the Year, Book figures, and have not the time to go back.