TAXATION BURDEN

Evening Star, Issue 20864, 6 August 1931, Page 16

TAXATION BURDEN

THE COUNTRY LOAD [Special to tub 4 Star.’] WELLINGTON, August 5. Provoked by * the demand of theMethvou farmers for immodiato relief from land tax. the Wellington ‘ Post,’ gives tho following facts in an editorial: — “Almost ti third of tho land tax is now paid by tho urban landowners. Rural landowners pay about £050,000; urban landowners pay £280,000 land tax and tho greater part of £4,000,000 income tax, altogether almost seven times as much as the rural landowners pay. Income tax in 1914 was 9.<17 per cent, of tho total tax yield, and land tax was 12.97 per cent. Eor 1929-30 the income tax was 18.15 per cent., and land tax 7.74 per cent. Last year income tax was greater and land tax less. This year income tax will be much greater still, and land tax will not bo increased. “ And what is the land tax burden?” asks the 4 Post.' 44 On rural land it is not much over £050,000 for all New Zealand. In 1928-29 the average tax assessed per return on owners of land ranging from £4,000 to £4,999 of unimproved value was £8 10s sd. On the biggest class of landowners (£I,OOO to £1.900 unimproved value) the average per return was £1 ISs 4d. Something more convincing is needed before a plea for relief at the expense of income or Customs taxpayers can be deemed reasonable.”