Suggestion Made For Citizens’ Tax

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31520, 7 November 1967, Page 18

Suggestion Made For Citizens’ Tax

A simple and equitable form of citizens’ tax could easily be brought into operation by an increase in the 50c drivers’ licence fee to, says $5, said the chai,rman

(Mr D. H. Warren), in his report to the annual meeting of the Paparua County Council last evening. Mr Warren said that Paparua issued about 5000 drivers’ licences and the increase he proposed would provide a worthwhile sum to relieve the ratepayers to some extent from the increasing level of rates.

The proposed tax, he said, would apply to citizens as distinct from ratepayers to a very large extent. It would be a simple charge, which local bodies were already organised to collect at little or no extra cost. “This form of collection would not involve the Government in any responsibility for collection and distribution.” he said. Mr Warren said that the Government had been understandably reluctant to raise taxation for other than its own purposes, or to act as a collecting agency for local government. Suggestions for some kind of local sales tax or a special levy on commercial establishments for local purposes appeared to present many difficulties.