HOPE FOR THE TAXPAYER?

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 117, 19 May 1937, Page 10

HOPE FOR THE TAXPAYER?

The Budget,' according to Mr. I Nash's statement to the London "Financial News," will show a much larger surplus than was anticipated. "Both income tax and Customs have yielded more than the estimates," said Mr. Nash. Before Mr. Savage left New Zealand he spoke of a surplus of., approximately £100,000. We cannot say whether Mr. Nash's "much larger surplus" is greater than this. But a surplus of any magnitude is 'good, if. it is not secured by over-weighty taxation. Taxation now is heavy. The Government. has almost £5,000,000 more revenue than in the preceding year. Part of this comes from emergency taxation kept on after the emergency has passed and part of^it comes from new imposts. If revenue is buoyant, the taxpayer may surely ask that he should have some relief. In preelection speeches leaders of the Labour Party said taxation was too heavy and they promised to reduce it (specifically the sales tax). With a surplus much larger than was anticipated the taxpayer's turn should come. He was promised relief before, but given none—only another twist of the screw. \