MR COLIN CLARK ON TAXATION

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22339, 1 March 1938, Page 13

MR COLIN CLARK ON TAXATION

y to me BDiToa or the eats*. &*'*' -Our Labour Ministers and their have been able to stop a their loud self-adulation and mutual back-patting to laud to the skies the favourable pronouncements of an economist from England, Mr Colin Clark. Mr Clark discovers, after a few weeks’ acquaintance with the Dominion, that our New Zealand farmers are the wealthiest in the world. This will be an astounding revelation to the average farmer, and he will no doubt feel as cheerful over this piece of news as a one-eyed cot case in a ward of the blind. Mr Clark has also discovered, to the delight of the Labour Party, that New Zealand is almost the lowest-taxed country in the world. This is something of a surprise packet to everybody. In y°nr issue of June 25 last year were figures which present quite a different story. They were supplied by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire, as follows: Taxes per Caput, 1936-37. £ s. d. Australia (estimated) .. .. 13 6 0 United Kingdom .. 16 12 6 jfew Zealand .. 19 15 2 Other figures compiled last year by the Associated Chambers of Commerce, implicating Labour, show the growing burden of taxation for each family. Year ending 1932. £45 17s lOd; 1933. £sl 10s Id; 1934. £55 14s 3d; 1935, £B3 14s 3d; 1936. £65 3s Id: 1937 (approximate), £76 16s 4d. In the light of the last forbidding rise, what are wo to think of Labour’s promise to reduce taxation? Sales tax was even to be abolished. In spite of present cocksureness. Labour will find that it has slipped badly on finance. The economics of its friend Mr Clark will go far to confirm the Government in its mistaken course till in due time Nemesis takes a hand. —Yours, etc., MONETARY REFORM. February 28, 1938.