Tax system denounced

Press, 18 April 1981, Page 2

Tax system denounced

PA Wellington New Zealand’s taxat-jon system has been denounced by the Labour member of Parliament for Auckland Central (Mr R. W. PrebbleJ, who terms it ‘'reverse socialism” under which money is taken from the many for the benefit of the few. Quoting the late Sir Walter Nash as saying, “It is not what I take in taxes that matters, but what you have left that counts,” Mr Prebble said, “The real issue among the work-force today is the buying power of take-home pay.”

He made Jiis latest attack on the Government’s taxation record in a speech at Auckland University. People on the average wage today required an immediate wage rise of about $25 a week, or the equivalent tax cut, to restore the buying .power they had under the 1972-75 Labour Government, Mr Prebble said. “I warn this National Government that ordinary New Zealanders will not tolerate this unfair taxation system,” he said. “New Zealanders will not continue to put up with a taxation system which is

making some citizens very wealthy and the bulk of the population poorer by the day.”. . National had promised tax reform over the last five years, but had done nothing. No doubt there would be huge tax cuts in this year’s Budget, Mr Prebble said. “But we are fed up with 'being bribed with our own money. A radical alteration inthe. whole taxation system is needed,” he said. ’ s “The Government’s taxation policies are causing severe social and industrial rifts in our society that threaten to tear our nation’s social fabric apart.”