INCREASE POSSIBLE

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 138, 15 June 1927, Page 8

INCREASE POSSIBLE

MINISTER ON TAXATION

THE BUDGET SURPLUS

(By Telegraph.) , (Special to "The Evening Post.") „. „ AUCKLAND, This Day. The possibility of an increase rather than a decrease in taxation in New Zealand was mentioned in a letter from the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. D. Stewart) received at a meeting of the Council of the Chamber of Commerce. The Minister /wrote acknowledging receipt of the Chamber's protest agamst the Government's failure to reduce taxation in view of the Budget surplus.

The Minister stated that he had tried to make it clear in his speech at Feildmg how the surplus had come about and that it could not possibly be a basis on which to justify reduced taxation, more especially in view of the outlook, which might quite possibly call for increased taxation if the finances of the country were to be kept on a proper basis. However, on the question of any increase, in taxation this should not be regarded as a considered opinion, he added. The chairman (Mr. A. 6. Lunn) remarked that they had asked: for a reduction and the Minister talked of an increase. A difficulty was that they did not know whether the surplus was a real one or merely a paper one. Mr. H. Hudson said he had brought the matter to the attention of the Taxpayers' Federation," which had better facilities for investigation of. Government accounts • than any other body. The matter was referred to the ex-ecutive-for consideration. »