WHITHER BOUND?

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 60, 8 September 1938, Page 10

WHITHER BOUND?

"UNJUST AND INIQUITOUS"

As president of the • Wellington^^ Employers' Association, and speaking also on behalf of employers generally, 'Mr. A. J. Curtis said he heartily endorsed the, views expressed by the previous , speakers. The tax; of Is against business profits was unjust and an iniquitous form of taxation. Taxation, said Mr. Curtis, was inevitable, but with limits. We were all human and no one denied the right of any person to have provision for the vicissitudes of life. Employers generally were entitled to make in business for a rainy day. There seemed to be no consideration of the fact that further taxation on business meant further hardship. The cost of living would be increased, thrift'would be discouraged, efficiency would be destroyed, and it would not tend to build a strong and virile nation. In addition, employers, manufacturers, and producers would be put offside in the markets of the world. # Generally it was a struggle under the present burden of taxation, and it was becoming more difficult to realise or imagine whence they were heading. As business men it was their duty to try and point out to the Government that they looked to it for some protection to enable them to keep their employees fully employed and to.build up for the futuref development of the Dominion. The Social Security Bill, in some of its clauses, was not in the best ests of employers, private enterprise, or the people generally. "DESTRUCTIVE ATTACK.". The New Zealand Manufacturer^ Federation, said the secretary, Mr. R. O'Shea wished to support and endorse wholeheartedly the statement that had been made by the previous speakers. The federation desired to stress one particular point, .namely, that many manufacturing concerns had been built up with undistributed profits; in fact, in such cases, that had really been the only basis upon which they could find capital for expansion. Accordingly, the federation's view of the proposed tax against companies, was a further destructive attack upon what it considered to be probably the finest capital available for business expansion. "A SHOCK." •/■ "I have just returned from Auckland, and it's astounding to note the feeling in the Auckland. Province vover this proposal," said Mr. A. E. Mabin. "It's given a shock to all the leaders of industries and companies because companies have been groaning under the weight of taxation for the last two or three years. We really feel that companies are being ground out of existence." The resolution moved by Mr. PaY trick wasv carried unanimously.