Greymouth Evening Star. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1945. GOVT.’S CONSCIENCE MONEY.

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 December 1945, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1945. GOVT.’S CONSCIENCE MONEY.

Treasurer, Mr. Nash is not a cheerful giver, disliking apparently, to surrender anything once extracted from the taxpayers, and when compelled to concede, owing' to the force of public opinion, or Party tactics, defers the act as long' as possible. It will be difficult therefore to arouse much enthusiasm over his latest announcement that a reduction of sixpence in the £ of the national security tax is to be made next May, and that the quarterly levy of 5/- is to be abolished. 'Recently, many thousands of registration books were issued, the printing of which would have been unnecessary had Mr. Nash made up his mind earlier. This levy was never popular, and its disappearance will be welcomed beyond the monetary relief obtained.

Some relief from the taxation burden is better than none, and as politeness demands gratitude, thanks will be extended to Mr. Nash, with the hope that he will do something much more effective, in his next Budget statement. The national security tax was supposed to be a war measure, but to some extent it will be permanent. The lavish increases in social security grants made essential an increase in the special taxation, as well as the general, and no surprise will be felt that this tax has been increased. Parliamentarians’ higher allowances are to be made permanent, and there is no reason why they should not share in the distribution of the national funds. Civil Service superannuitafits are also given redress of old grievances, and if there is any class which has been overlooked, well, their day may come. A good time is to be had by all, and if there are kill-joys who will give reminders of the lessening purchasing pow-r of money, inflation, and the results of insisting on the easy way, these can be disregarded by those who believe that sufficient for the day is the good thereof. The Government’s bull-dozer methods in rushing legislation through during the closing days .of the session is audacious beyond the ordinary, but the House is too tired to protest much. Nerves and tempers are frayed, leading to scenes requiring the Speaker’s intervention. Mr. Schramm has been tried and not found wanting. There is agreement that he has held the scales with equal poise, and endeavoured to maintain the dignity of the House, in which task he has not had all the co-op-eration possible, judging from what is heard over the air. The long vacation will be welcomed by all concerned, and will be utilised by Ministerialists in. telling the country what good boys they have been. The Opposition (Members will have cause [‘or gratification on recalling the good attack's they made when occasion warranted, their debating strength being superior to that of the other side. A difficulty they will have in the electioneering campaign will be to make the people realise the little worth of the taxation concessions, grants and subsidies, upon which Labour is obviously relying for continuance of support at the next elections. Mr. Nash is but giving the people back their own or rather a small portion of it.