TAXATION BURDEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 29, 3 August 1939, Page 6

TAXATION BURDEN

OPPOSITION CRITICISM MINISTER'S DEFENCE

In a vigorous indictment of the Government's budgetary proposals, the Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. Adam Hamilton), opening the Financial Debate in the House of Representatives last night, examined the effect of Labour's policy over the: last four years, and accused the Government of having done nothing more in. that period than./'follow a back-door method... of--cutting, living-standards. "We/are asked to approve a Budget'which, instead: of bringing needed relief, adds to the family load ;■ a Budget that is making people with initiative, on the land and m the towris, say, "What's die use?'* declared Mr. Hamilton. ...

Mr. Hamilton quoted major changes in the.financial position of theD'omimbn during the past .year to support his warping against the dangerous situation into which the Country was drifting. Thb .only other speaker in; the debate last evening was the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the -Mon. DAG. Sullivan), said that a survey of conditions would prove that .the majority of the people were a great deal better off than was the case during the depression years, and that the position today compared favourably with conditions ruling before the depression.