TAXATION FOR CHARITIES

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 24, 23 October 1907, Page 11

TAXATION FOR CHARITIES

MR. BENT'S NEW BILL

BACEHORSEsi''V-.THEATRES,'-,', .MOTOR • CARS ; AND .BICYCLES iTO BE TAXED.

Mr. Bent's novelty ,in legislation, ; thV Charities Taxation Bill,.'which -has^'celled:'forth ■much "discussion in -Victoria, is; thus explained by the Melbourne "Age ,, :— • r .. . ;'■. • According , to' theannual report of the';lii'Bpectdr:;pf,;Charities'.for.\,tHe' financial year 1906V1906, the7total .expenditure of all tho subsidised charities:was £273,216,;wni10 tho total' revenue received for -maintenance -was £301,875: :; Certain •'receipts;, wore credited to endowment'- ! funds,' iwhiclK 1 now 'aggregate' about" £250,000. The. ''■ sources' of ■'-revenue grant, £100,000;' municipal grant,"'£lo,7ls;: local contributions, , £77,548; legacies , and bequests, £20,309; interest "upon'investments,-£ll;603; patients contributions;' etc:,; "£19,418; fees/£6576; and'inmates' labour, : £15,255.. These' lourcesj as already; shown, i fully, vide -fcfr the 'aggregate requirements of our charitiesT •Whether the revenue is equitably distributed % another "matter; Then, what is the object of the Bill? Tho complaintis often made that'-onlyi'a''small proportion or the public gives ]to charity, ;that the same people give every, time, and that as to tho charities, while some evidently have more money than enough to pay : thoir way, othors of the .most deserving are often m dire straits. A proper, taxation scheme would allot the.burden more'generally and, evenly;; and 'provision , could be ' made to' secure a the funds: The .Government ~:. grant 'would,' of course; be withdrawn, and the .new'taxation would/take its. ■ place,'.. 'C/" : ■'■'.-'l , .'' v-'u.;; 1, '■■ '.' \ n '' : y.- '-'.■''■'['"' In'the 'new 'measure'l the most' importaat tax will be that levied on municipalities! Mr. Bont proposes to levy cent, on the mnnicipal 'revenue, 'exclusive of interest.: The total "revenue''or .cities, towns, boroughs and shires;',-accprdirig' to last' year's-figures; was £1,388,i292j. i including interest, which amdan-;ted..t6:'£lßß;'lir]-;If the'interest is deducted, : there! will remainja balance of £1,200,000 as the'basis' , ,for ! the 5 "percent. ! charity' tax, which' would thus bring in ,£60,000/ as com-pared-with, the present' municipal'grant of ■£i0.0p0.-:/;; :^v; ;^ ; . : r ; - : -: : ' ;i: - ■ "-/ :, ';; ; The i nextvimportant;source' of taxation: will, be. spOTts :; anda'musemerits.'.- !i All : the'leading' racecourses .will : be made to contributei, : ;Race : ■horses are to 'be'taxed 'at ss.' on each entry in ey.ery "event' in f which"' they "compete.; Coursing dots- will 'bej-.similarly taxed.; At present, no charge is made' for admission to the flat'at , Ke'mington.vMr. ; Bent proposes. to makei a 'charge of 6.d. : on all big days. "All fees derived under the Gaming Act, estimated at,£3o,ooo'a yearf: will be handed over to the charities.'i Theatres will bo required t-i pay -5 'per 1 cent;-6n ,v th'oir ■ profits' '.tip 1 to: a maximum contribution of 1 'Fishing and shooting will be subjected to a tax,' and: air guns will' be practically prohibited by a tax of ■£s'.'- 1 . : :"v' , ;;.■.<.•■'•:■•;'-■ .■■■'. ; ' 1 -.. ,, [ '/: [: ''■■'•' '■■■'■■ .' ,;

Motor 'cars," motor bicycles and carriages •will .'be' brought 'under the Bill. 1 ' Motor cars ■eilhpay': a fee of £2;'motor> bicycles; 10s., bicycles ssi;'and pleasure vehicles £I.' It has been -estimated ; :that' l therb are :from• 80,000 to 100,000 bicycles in use, so that a tax of Ss. each l ypuld bring lin'/from ■,£20,000 to £25,000. - ■ As 'a large■ proportion' of the bi '■ cycles'-is'used by'•workmen l and clerks-to get ;to and f :frpm; their''Work, .such' 1 an 'impost would' no; doiibt' raise iv good deal of opposition. a;The amounts-• of-''taxation ! •'will, of course, be subject to rovision, both, by the Cabinet and by Parliament, if'the Bill 'gets that far. ?? ■■■>..-.:■.. ■ Xv :.,.;v ■

'Mr., Bent's latest proposition is to levy' a tax; oii , newspapers for--the benefit of the chanties.. He proposes to make it 5 per cent, on the profits.'"The , ; banks'arc ''also 1 under his consideration as a, fit Subject if or a charities tax"/ but,he has : not yet definitely decided to include,them"..;.';.. , '- '■ - : u.^ : ■'>■**:(■ i.\i ■~; An, important! departure in.' the. organisation and. management,, of hospitals is proposed.. Provision.is made in the Bill, for. a board;, to consist of- five. members, the chairmall M'■ receive/a salary,, of £250, and-the-other, members,£loo. each'.' ~Their."dutibs'.'will be to, allocate ~tho fpnds, .and iregulate i the of-,, doctors, ; and ~ nurses. One abute that, .will thus .be ; rempyed ,is the present-, system ,of. electing doctors, to; thei'Melbourne,' Hospital.; .' "'. •■..'.' .. , r ■. . £.:fw : of the provisions of. what is designed tp.bei.a comprehensive measure.' What revenue it. will Taise.,.is,, of. .course, problematical,'but, assuming all the imposts