CONSTRUCTIVE SUGGESTIONS NEEDED

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 123, 20 November 1931, Page 8

CONSTRUCTIVE SUGGESTIONS NEEDED

(To tho Editor.)

Sir,—Mr. Edwards's speech at the annual meeting of the British (U.K.) Manutaetmeis' Association complains of the burden of Customs taxation, notwithstanding the lengthy explanations entered into by the Prime Minister and the Finance \Minister when the duties were imposed, that a number of the increases were made to get revenue in this ilnancial crißis. Most of .the usual revenue has. been seriously reduced, such as income tax, totalieator, liquor revenue, land transfers, etc., aud yet Mr.1' Edwards, while making this statement, puts forward no constructive suggestion, as to what he would do to raise1 the revenue if the Customs taxes were lifted. It's easy to criticise, but much harder to work out the alternative. The figures given .for. the increase of revenue to total imports show a rise of •1.68 per cent. Mr. Edwards says this is an "alarming increase.'' Now, when we consider that the foreign tariff was raised' to assist English manufacturers, and Canada from a preferential tariff rate to the foreign tariff rate owing to'the way they treated our products, also that a. luxury tax was put on .wines, spirits, tobaccos, and an increase of, primage duty on .all imports for the purpose.of raising money to, assist in balancing the Budget, is 4.68 per cent, an "alarming .increase"? How, then, would 10 per cent, .reduction, in salaries and wages, plus unemployment levy, be described by Mr. Edwards? ' Would "alarming" be the right word for double the percentage ?,.-•■ ■ . Mr. Edwards also says: "Drastic economy in expenditure and elimination of waste in public utilities must be 'instituted." What does he mean by must^be instituted? What have Parliament, and the Government, and local .bodies been doing for the last twelve months but theße' identical things? Does he try to induce the public to believe that he is advocating something which is already partly accomplished, or is it a case of Rip Van Winkle just woke up? At. a previous meeting' Mr. Edwards stated that production costs were in excess o£ sale prices, but this bald statement was not supported by evidence under any particular heading. Surely we might expect our public speakers to give credit to those who are doing good work for the Dominion, and support their ow,n statements by facts and ' figures; if they expect the public to accept the speeches they make as of value to the community.— I am. etc.. DINKUM DOPE.