SOLDIERS AND THE COMPULSORY WAR LOAN

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 119, 13 February 1941, Page 6

SOLDIERS AND THE COMPULSORY WAR LOAN

When asked why men who were serving in the forces overseas should be called upon to subscribe to the compulsory war loan the Minister of Finance said that the circular “had been sent out in accordance with the usual procedure.” flhe use of the woid ciiculai might cause some misunderstanding. This was not simply a circular letter, but a definite notice—at least in some cases —mentioning the amount that should be applied for and when payment must be made. Representatives of men- now serving overseas have received these demands, and the Minister has stated, by way of explanation, that “the department concerned could not possibly knovy the names of income taxpayers who were overseas on active service. Which is the department concerned? An Auckland journal, giving particu ais of some of these notices, states that a “close check on all subscriptions to last year’s compulsory war loan” was being made by the Reserve Bank, but that the notices bore the signature of the Mimstei of Finance. If the Bank is making the check it would not, oi course, have any access to income tax returns. The general assumption was that this matter would be handled entirely by the Land and Income lax Department, which should have no difficulty in ascertaining whet.iei a man is away on active service. Men on entering camp have to hand in their registration levy books, and as these aie the concei.n of the Taxation Department, would they nut furnish a most rehaoie source of information? Men in camp have received diiect fiom t lat office demands for income tax, and naturally concluded that tle officials knew where they were located, as they nad handed in then levy books. The position is not met satisfactorily by the general assurance of the Minister that there is an appeal committee which would deal with applications made on behalf of absent soldieis. Why Siou such representations have to be made at all? If a. jpan is airoa serving in the forces, in any capacity, the people of New Zea anU whatever may be the intention of the Ministry—do not wish him to be called upon for a subscription to a war loan He is aheacy making a verv valuable contribution by serving m the war zone, and at verv great'personal sacrifice and risk. There should be no need for soldiers on active service to appeal, for the simple leason that they I should be automatically exempted