TAXATION

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 98, 22 October 1924, Page 9

TAXATION

POLICY OR DRIFT?

(By "Justice.")

' When I set out some time' ago to show the injustice of our present system of taxation and advocated a comprehensive review, I was, I "believed, doing a national eervics to the community. There was no ■ desire for any personal advertisement or political ''gain. A norn de plume was, therefore, selected to write under, and although the identity of "Justice" has become known to many, the reasons for adopting the norn de plume still exist, and' I propose to continue it. Let me, however, make- it clear that the writer is not rich enough to be directly affected by any change in the system of taxation -„.'■■ . After a short and sharp controversy between the Prime Minister and myself he set up a Commission to inquire into; and report'on the whole position of the land and income taxation. My immediate purpose was, therefore, attained. ' All members appointed, to the Commission were men of means. Two had previously " expressed opinions strongly in support of. the present system, yet, in spite of these factors the evidence was so overwhelming that the Commission "unanimously found that the anomalies I mentioned did exist; that people with large income were not paying their share of taxation, and in some cases were paying none at all. They reported : "We have considered' the matter 'carefully, .'and the conclusion we have come to is that the ideal; graduated income tax is a tax upon the in.comes from all sources df each individual and we recommend that the fiscal policy of the Dominion should be shaped so as to secure the abolition, as far as is reasonably practicable, of the present system of company taxation." '• They further state: "Before a change could be made from the present form of taxation of companies it will be found necessary to have data -as; to the full in-» come of each individual in order that a close estimate could be made of the probable yield of any such scale of taxation. This data is not at present available.'1' The only apparent outcome of this report so far as one can see. is to make some rich leaseholders on Government lands, who paid no taxation whatever, liable for income tax, and to lower taxation generally,, but lowering the level of the tax does not alter the injustice of it. ; The people now ask "Are the recommendations of the Commission, or part of them, to be given effect to? Is'the Prime Minister gathering the necessary data ,to be able to change the system? If only part is to be changed', which part? If none, why? And what then was the use of setting up' the Commission?" • , ''• ' . I-most respectfully ask.the Prime Minister to state:— (1) Whether he intends \o give effect to the Taxation Commission's report, and place the burden of taxation on each individual in accordance with their income? (2) If so, what steps are being taken now, and when does he purpose giving effect to this policy? (3) If he does not intend to adopt the Commission's report, does'he intend to adhere to the present system? (4) If not, what alteration of our taxation policy does he propose to make? It will be acknowledged that a statement of policy is a fair and modest request, 'and I make it on behalf of every intelligent man and woman in the Dominion. '..'