WAR TAXATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 August 1946, Page 6

WAR TAXATION

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REPRESENTATIONS

EARLY ABOLITION URGED

Representations made by the Greymouth Chamber of Commerce for the abolition of the 33 1-3 per cent, loading on income tax now that the war has ended, have resulted in a reply from the Minister of Finance (Mr. Nash) to the effect that “the Government has these regulations, in common with' the other war emergency regulations, under review.” Many regulations, it was pointed out, had already been revoked. The individual regulations in the Finance Emergency Regulations would, immediately it was practicable, be either revoked or, where considered expedient, translated into permanent legislation. . This information was received at last evening’s meeting of the chamber, at which Mr. R. N. Anderson presided. Excess Profits Tax. A request for information regarding the probable date of the declaration of the end of the war, which would enable the excess profits tax to be lifted, was also replied to by the Minister. He stated that the war would not officially end until peace treaties with enemy countries had been signed. If there should be any undue delay in the signing of the treaties, and should circumstances require an earlier date, the mattei would be examined, he added. Factories Act. A clause of the new Factories Act, which has caused concern in Canterbury, was noted with alarm by members of the Greymouth Chambei, though the Act itself, in its effoits to afford more comfort and conveniences for employees, was generally approved. Concern was expressed that unlimited power should be given local factory inspectors with no right of appeal against their decisons. _lt was felt that the clause gave the inspector unwarranted power to interfere with the internal workings of the factory, a power that could well ae abused. . 2 Advice on the subject was received from the Government at lasi evening’s meeting, it being stated that the Factories Act would be introduced in Parliament shortly and that the Associated Chambers of Commerce would be given an opportunity to submit recommendations on the matters to be determined.