NO MORE TAXES.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20630, 20 August 1932, Page 14

NO MORE TAXES.

PRIME MINISTER'S ASSURANCE. programme for session. [THE PRESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, August 19. An assurance that the country need have no fear of further drastic legislation being introduced during the coming session and that the imposition of more taxation of any description was not anticipated was given by the Prime Minister, the lit. Hon. G. W. Forbes, to-day. The attention of Mr Forbes was drawn to a published opinion that business would continue to pick up so long as Parliament did not meet, and that apparently Parliament had gone so far with taxation and legislation of a drastic nature that the public had become very timid concerning what the Legislature might do next. He said lie was bound to agree that the session of Parliament had an unsettling effect, but this was chiefly caused by the fact that so many ill-considered statements were inclinod to be made in the House. The Government was not responsible for many things that were said during debates, and it had to be admitted it was unfortunate that thero was a danger of the country becoming alarmed unnecessarily over questions which were overstated. So far as the future was concerned, the Dominion could be assured that the Government would not bring down legislation that would further interfere with contracts or in any way have an unsettling effect on trade and industry. As stated somo days ago, the Government had completed its legislative programme to meet the economic crisis, and the laws already jjassed ■ would be left to take their course. The coming session would not provide any surprises. Parliament would be almost wholly concerned with routine work and legislation delayed owing to the heavy pressure of emergency work during the past two years.

No General Taxation. Questioned concerning taxation, the Prime Minister said he was ablo to say that no more general taxation would be imposed. In addition, the Government was fairly confident that there would be no need to increase taxation for unemployment relief purposes. The Acting-Minister for Employment, who was with the Prime Minister at the time, agreed that unless something unforeseen occurred resulting in unexpected demands being made on the unemployment fund there should bo no need for additional unemployment taxation. Reference was made by the Prime Minister to the suggestion that Parliament should have continued its work during the recent emergency session' and made the holding of another session this year unnecessary. lie said the Government would have avoided holding a second session this year if it could havo done so, but for several rontons this would not have been practicable. In the first place it was impossible with the present system of national accountthe Budget ready for presentation before July. Had it been possible to pre--8"n t l io n ""1 ; -f : ••> "■ n the year the Government would have been pleased to do away with the second session. As it was, however, the work of the coming session Would practically revolve around the Estimates, j which, in his opinion, would be the most important single item to be dealt with.! In addition, it could not be overlooked i that there might bo legislation arising! out of the decisions reached at the Ottawa Conference, although it could not be said at the present moment just what legislation would be needed in' this respect. What statements would be made in the House by certain interests remained to be seen, but tho Government was gratified with the evidences of returning confidence, and it would assist in every way to restore a fuller measure of faith in the future.