“Open” Taxation Sought By Social Credit

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32384, 25 August 1970, Page 13

“Open” Taxation Sought By Social Credit

The choice of members for the Payroll Tax transitional Relief Committee was criticised last week by the Christchurch regional council of the Social Credit League. The criticism was based on the committee’s selection being confined “to the legal, accountancy and banking professions—three professions which are generally recognised as being among the few remaining bastions of an orthodox and antiquated monetary system,” a publicity officer for the league, Mr G. M. Edmonds, said yesterday.

“It is logical to believe that such persons are not likely to give much sympathy or credence to anyone begging relief from the ultra-orthodox taxation policies with which the Minister of Finance is so obviously obsessed,” said Mr Edmonds. He said that the council considered it reasonable to assume that the relief committee would be advised by the same Treasury advisers who advised the Minister to levy the payroll tax in the first place.

“Although the Minister has attempted to justify the payroll tax partly on the grounds that it is the start of a shift away from individual income tax, it is worth noting that the taxation review committee, which first recommended this type of taxation switch’

also recommended that a payroll tax should not be introduced.

“The council is of the opinion that indirect taxation is, in a sense, taxation by stealth," said Mr Edmonds. “If the course of justice is best served by justice not only being done but being seen to be done, then taxation should not only be collected, but should be seen to be collected, and be seen from whom.” Mr Edmonds said the council believed a relief committee which was more representative of industrial, employer and consumer interests would be more acceptable and more in keeping with democratic principles.