PAYING FOR THE WAR

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 201, 25 August 1945, Page 7

PAYING FOR THE WAR

KEEPING UP TAXATION M K. CONNOLLY'S ARGUMENT Parliamentary Reporter. WELLINGTON, this day. "The only policy measure known to the Opposition is taxation reduction," declared Mr. Connolly (Govt., Dunedin West), in his Budget speech in the House of Representatives yesterday. "Taxation is based on ability to pay," he added. "If the people have the money, why should they not be taxed to help those in their later life who assisted others to accumulate wealth?" He said he would like to see the age benefit raised to £3 a week so that everyone reaching 60 years would be in a position to enjoy their remaining years. He did not think that the 2/6 a week national and social security tax combined would be objected 'to if it was .known that it was to be used to make the lives of elderly people happy in their declining years.

Mr. Connolly added that there was nothing wrong with keeping taxation up to get rid of the war loans as soon as possible. Why should posterity be asked to pay? Their aim should be to see that in ten years' time the people would not be paying for the war just ended, like they had to pay for the first world war.

Mr. Sutnerland (Nat., Hauraki). contended that all servicemen should be given a concession in tax when they returned to New Zealand. It was not fair, he said, to ask them to pay the debt for the war they had helped to win.