BRITISH INCOME TAX.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 108, 30 January 1908, Page 5

BRITISH INCOME TAX.

NEW CAMPAIGN. - . " >• r.. ri. >' ■ ' REDUCTION I.EACUE FORMED/ DT TEr.ECRArU—rUESS ASSOCIATION—COPTEIOHT, - London, January 28. An Income Tax Reduction Leaguo has been inaugurated. Lord AYcbury (formerly Sir John Lubbock) presided. THE TAX CRITICISED. A Conservative tariff-reform writer;.sums up tho income tax as follow There is no patriot who objects ti> an income tax levied in timo of war. Devised originally for * tho defenco of tho country, it would never have fallen into disrepute had it"; tifeefc iaTwSj»'.token off when the .bill presented by tliq,,,'V\'ar Offico. was paid. • But in 1842 Sir Robort-'Eeel/im-1 posed it upon: a peaceful country,' to raalvO possible his J scheme .of iFree , .Trade, -tmd- vl 'np ; 1 doubt it appeared poeticalty 1 j ust to tnatl astute statesman that " the''jiVopfertied whom Free Trade . wak-destined to" inflict'-the heaviest blow, should ' pay, a double/ penalty for their thrift and industry. And ever since that time tho income tax has been a favourite device of 'unimaginative' : financiers I .''' To'.iriusd it was automatically to'.increase the ' revenue' and to A win an instant popularity ; witKvtV greedy: proletariat ;ifoy ;a ...fr,et( breakfast-table." Tho" same writer declares that the income tax is a'tax after the Labour party's own heart,, for tin. l , working.-man is exempt,; even if, he is i .foreman earning., JC7 a week. The Labour party, is relying.,for-ojd-.ngo pensions, on tho higher taxation al incomes.',.