LABOUR'S PROTEST

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 82, 5 April 1924, Page 11

LABOUR'S PROTEST

CONSTITUTION OF COMMISSION

CRITICISED.

WESTPORT, 4th April. When the announcement was first made that a Koyal Commission consisting of'Mr. Justice Sim and four business mea was to be eel up to inquire into the present system of land and income taxation, Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Labour.Party, telegraphed to the Prime Minister protesting against representation on the .Commission.being confined to one section of-the community, and urging that the organised workers be-1 given at least equal representation with-the business elements.

The following telegraphic correspondence lias since passed between the Prime Minister and Mr. Holland; —

"Wellington, Ist April.—Your telegram received. IfU wanted to overload, the Commission and make it impossible for any good results to accrue 1 would follow your suggestion. The men Tioing 'appointed are reliable and able business men in whom the country will have conndencn, and others interested will be' welcome' to come alojag "and givo evidence on matters in which they are concerned. My object is to'get some sound recommendations to place before Parliament1 as soon sas opportunity offer;.— 'W. ;]?. Massey." ' ,■ ' .: ."Westpprt,. V2nd ■.■April.—Thanks for i wire I iailtosee how the Commission would be overloaded if it consisted of, say, two business men and two from workers' organisations. I submit there would be no difficulty in getting men from the Labour ranks as reliable and as able as those from mo business ranks, -nd -in whom the country would have quite as much confidence, and who would be equally capable of framing sound recommendations to Parliament <>n the taxation question. I very respectfully but;vcry strongly urge reconsideration.—H. E. Holland." "Eakaia, 3rd April.—Your telegram received. The gentlemen recommenced I for appointment to the Taxation Commission have been selected irrespective of party, sectional or local considerations, but simply because they are thoroughly' reliable and experienced business men, with a'good knowledge of economics, wllo would be able to arrive at a decision which I am confident will be valuable both to Parliament and the citizens of this country.—W. P. Massey." "Westport, 4th April.—l have to thank you for your latest wire. I infer from it that the proposal to appoint business men only to the Koyal Commission on iaxation will not be reconsidered. Without in any way reflecting on the" capabilities and integrity of the gentlemen whom it is proposed, to appoint, lam confident that tne foot of the Commissioners being drawn solely from ..tne ranks of the employers, and the consequent nai-rowing down of the Commission to that school of economic thought, will render a report far less valuable than would otherwise be the case. Furthermore, I have very grave doubts as to whether representative 'working men and women capable of rendering^ valuable assistance will care ■to figure as witnesses before a Commission of such importance oh which they are denied representation.—H. E. Holland."