MINISTER RESENTFUL

Evening Star, Issue 21093, 4 May 1932, Page 2

MINISTER RESENTFUL

THE TAXATION CRITICS LABOUR'S ANOMALOUS ATTITUDE [From Our Parliamentart Reporter.] WELLINGTON, May a. Strong resentment at the attitude of some Labour speakers concerning his motives in connection with the taxation legislation was expressed by Mr Stewart in the House this morning. “ If Labour ever hopes to get into office,” ho said, “it will have more chance of getting in not by the votes of the working man, but by the votes of the over-taxed capitalists, because that is the stage we have now reached in New Zealand.’’ Tho Minister said the taxes were now so overwhelming that he had been astounded at the attacks which had been made on himself. Ho objected to allegations that he had tricked the House in stating that ho had originally contemplated imposing £2,000,000 in taxation, and alleging that for some motive he had not put it on. “It was quite unfounded,” he said, “ and I resent it very much.” Referring to the sales tax proposed, tho Minister said it was difficult to evolve and to apply, but it might become inevitable to impose it next year. As to tho criticism launched by Labour speakers, it was astounding, unfounded, and unjustified. Mr Stewart said ho had already indicated that, if further taxation was necessary, it would bo both direct and indirect. Investigation had shown that tho resources of tho country wore such that practically £2,000,000 would have had to come out of tho sales tax and Customs, and about £200,000 from income tax and stamp duties. Tho Government had been able to stave off extra taxation for another six or twelve months. Tho Labour Party stated, on tho one hand, that tho taxation should have been imposed, and then, when certain lines of taxation were suggested to them, they suggested that they should not be imposed.