Taxation

Press, 16 November 1981, Page 20

Taxation

Sir,—As the three main parties contesting the election have indicated their refusal to sign T.R.I.M.’s arrogantly impertinent “candidates’ integrity pledges,” its newspaper campaign of full-page advertisements setting out its aims and intentions, appears designed to discredit all candidates who refuse to sign or subscribe to the virtues which it seems to regard as T.R.I.M.’s sole prerogative, in a blatant attempt to bend the Parliamentary system to its will. It wants “less government through lower taxes.” Its aim is obviously free enterprise with the gloves off, or freebooting enterprise. Undoubtedly there are unjust anomalies in the taxation system, but achieving T.R.I.M.’s goal would mean dismantling the social welfare system. If T.R.I.M. has the support it claims (page 10, “The Press,” November 10) why did it not place its>,, own “integrity •pledged candidates” before the public in the General Election, and put its support to the acid test of trial by election. —

Yours, etc., M. CREEL. November 11, 1981

Sir,—Although I am in sympathy with much that the Tax Reduction, Integrity Movement is trying to achieve, I believe that there is considerable doubt about their proposals on turnover tax. The paper by Macfarlane and Grierson, entitled “Taxation and TaxationReform for New Zealand,” which has been widely circulated by T.R.1.M., states that turnover tax “will produce substantially greater revenue because (amongst others) domestic or ‘casual’ sales would be included.” As their National candidate, I could not possibly ask people in the St Albans electorate to support this proposal to tax the sale of private houses, cars and. household effects. Even the proceeds of garage sales would be taxable, although how the evasion of tax on such cash sales could be prevented is a mystery to me. Nor could I support the taxing of charities and sports clubs which is also proposed by T.R.I.M. As a candidate, I prefer to be judged for my own integrity rather than to tag. along with someone else’s definitions. — Yours, etc., JIM BAKER, National Party candidate for St Albans. November 13, 1981.