WAR TAXES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3097, 30 May 1917, Page 7

WAR TAXES

. • • — —+—. —- EXCESS PROFITS METHOD CONDEMNED BY FARMERS EVASIONS ALLEGED (By Telegraph.—Special Reporter.) Marion,. May 29. '■,-_■ A subject of great interest to producers as war taxation. The AVcllington Confer- , «nce of tho New Zealand Farmers' Onion spent some time over the matter to-day, and tho discussion was interesting. A feature of the discussion was the con<iemnatiou of the excess profits tax. Mr. .V. . ETowin (AS T averJey) moved: "That in place of the excess profits tux as at present levied, tho graduated laud .aid income ta*\ should bo increased at a ! Hat rate, and that the exemption should fee lowered." Ho said that the oxperi".ment known as the oxee6s profit tax had failed .badly. The man who could not '"rig" his returns paid more than the ■'man who could.

Mr. H. A. Nerins (Tinui), who supported the motion, said he preferred a graduated tax. Farmers could gefc audi'tor.s to so make up their returns that they paid no excess .profits .tax.. He understood that a list of names was held in Wellington-of mon who ha 4 paid little ■or nothing, and he, hoped tWo people ■would bo mado to pay. For the present they were escaping. . Mr. A. Stunrt-(MarWn) said tho excess profits tax was bad because it penalised industry. Mr. Nerins. Air. G. Sykes, M.P, '{Masterton), and others objected to the reference to "flat rate" in the motion, and the reference was deleted. '■ M'r. AV. B. Malheson (Bferahiina) said the wa,y some of fhe,farmers were evac■ing tnb excess profit's tax was scandalous. Re hoped the evaders would be prosecuted and punished. Mr. J. Balsillie (Palmerston North) «aid the farmers were complaining about taxation every year, and it waa up to them.to suggest a method. Hβ thought an acreage tax , would be best., ' ,' Mr. A. Kobinson (Wanganui) thought there could be uo two opinions on the 'Mcess profits tax—it was inadvisable. He moved the following amendment of ■fha -motion:— ■ t That in place of the'excess profits ■ tax; as at present levied, the gradn- * ated land and income' , tax should bo. increased, and the exemption lowered. ; ' ■J Mr. J. Allison' (AVangamii) seconded!the amendment. Mr. G. Sykes, M.P., said the dxeess profits method' was a bad one, and he favoured the amendment. ••.-'■ Mr. H. Daysh (Martinborough): If our spineless National Government , had put a tax.on exports all .this could have been done away with. 'Loud cries of "No!" , The amendment was earned. The following Gladetone-Carterton remit was withdrawn without being discussed i •—"That the farmers Tequest the Government to put on an export tax in place of trie excess profits tax."