"CLASS TAXATION."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 81, 6 April 1938, Page 10

"CLASS TAXATION."

THRIFTLESS WILL BENEFIT. SIR A. RANSOM'S COMMENT. (By Telegraph.— Press Association.) HASTINGS, Tuesday. "I regard this as another form of class taxation." said Sir Alfred Ransom when questtoned about the Government'* superannuation scheme. -"The scheme was first announced as a universal superannuation, but it now appears to he universal in only one respect, which is that everyone will have to pay. "'J he tax of Sd on wages income produces £5, 180,000," said Sir Alfred. 'This tax is to be increased to one shilling direct tax and another shiHine.indirect tax, making the initial cost i>7 the scheme £15,500,000. Mr. Savage says the Government will pay the second shilling from the Consolidated Fund, but that fund is raised in direct taxation, so that the actual tax, direct or will be two shillings in the pound. "Only the unfortunate, indigent and thriftless will receive any benefits from the scheme. Those who pay in most will receive nothing of the benefits." The Prime Minister had expressed a hope that the emergency unemployment tax would be' wiped out, but he was imposing a new tax which would continue for ever. A new public department would be required to carry out the work demanded by the bill. Already, under the present administration, the public service had been increased by more than 8000.