Public wants cut in Govt spending

Press, 20 April 1982, Page 10

Public wants cut in Govt spending

The public's first choice of a way to reduce personal income tax is to cut Goverment spending. There is only minor support for a straight increase in sales taxes.

Reduced State spending is the preference of 34 per cent of people sampled throughout New Zealand in the latest “New Zealand Herald” National Research Bureau survey.

The second preference is for a combination of reduced State spending and increased sales taxes. “Some of both” is supported by 29 per cent. ■ The third preference is to leave things as they are, a proposal supported by 18 per cent of respondents. In fourth place as a means of reducing income, taxes is a straight increase ' in sales taxes, which gained a 12 per cent response. The survey covered 2200 people aged 15 and over selected by random probability methods from New Zealand's 20 main population centres. It was conducted from March 13 to 17.

People were asked: “If, to reduce personal income taxes, it were necessary for the Government either to increase sales taxes of reduce Government spending or do some of both,- which . option would you prefer, or would you rather taxes and Government spending be left as they are?" The responses were: Per cent Increase sales taxes 12 Reduce Government spending 34 Some of both 29 Leave things as they are 18 Don’t know 7 The support for reduced Government expenditure parallels a finding in a “Her-ald”-N.R.B. poll of September, 1980, that 53 per cent of people believed that 'Government spending should be reduced (24 per cent did not support reduction and 23 per cent were neutral).

A lack of enthusiasm for sales taxes was also shown in the 1980 survey, which found that 35 per cent sup-

ported a shift in the basis of taxation from income tax to sales tax, 38 per cent opposed it, and 27 per cent were neutral.

In the latest poll, the highest preference for increased sales tax was among men (15 per cent), people aged 25 to 34 (16 per cent) and Christchurch, City residents (15 per cent). The lowest preference for increased sales ‘ taxes were among women (10 per cent), peophj.aged 15 to 24 (9 per cent), and Dunedin provincial area residents (8 per cent). In opinions bn reduced Government spending, men and women showed an equal result at 34 per cent each. Otherwise, the highest preferences were recorded among people aged 45 to 54 (36 per cent) and Auckland provincial area residents (37 per cent). The lowest preference for reduced Government spending was among people aged 35 to 44 (31 per cent), and Wellington provincial area residents (29 per cent). The highest preference for “some of both” was among men (29 per cent), people aged 35 to 44 (32 per cent), and Dunedin provincial area residents (36 per cent)! The lowest preference for “some of both” was among women (28 per cent), people aged 55 -and over (26 per cent), and Auckland provin-’ cial area residents (24 per cent). The highest preference for ■leaving things as they are was among women (19 per cent), people aged 15 to 24 (22 per cent), and Christchurch provincial area residents (21 per cent). The lowest preference for leaving things as they are was among men (17 per cent), people aged 25 to 34 (14 per cent), and Wellington provincial area residents (17 per ce nt)c O py r jg|j t! 1932 — "Npw Zealand Herald.” Tomorrow: Strong views on National Superannuation