The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10. 1920. ARE THE POORER CLASSES OVER-TAXED?

Gisborne Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5582, 10 September 1920, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10. 1920. ARE THE POORER CLASSES OVER-TAXED?

The debate in the House on Tuesday evening on the subject of taxation was most interesting, especially that portion which dealt with the question as to whether or net tno government is penalising the poorer classes by continuing to obtain such a huge amount of revenue per medium of Customs duties. It is perhaps not generally realised that the value of the imports brought into the Dominion,Vfor the seven months ended July 31 last, was nearly twice as great as the total for the corresponding period of 1919. To he exact the figure for this particular portion of 1919 was £17,553,778 and in respect of the like period for this year £29,342,372. In the circumstances, it is not .surprising to learn that Customs duties collections, at the present junctufe, are proving of record dimensions. By way of illustrating this point we may mention that, in July 1919, Customs duties totalled £277,041 hut, in July of this year, they came to £699,186. Or, again, let us take the figures in respect of the first four months of the financial • year 1919-20 and compare them with the corresponding period of . 1920-21. For tlie earlier period the total was £1,354.643 and fo,- the latter £2,712,492. It would, therefore, seem that, if the present rate of imports continue the government will collect in Customs duties this year over £8,000,000 as against the estimate of £6.000,000! Wo were not at all surprised to learn that a 'urge section of the members of the House could not refrain from expressing the viewpoint that overtaxation is taking place under the heading of “Customs duties.” . Mr Massey, however, does not seem at all disposed to remedy the *state of affairs in respect of which wide-, spread complaint is being made. He admitted' that the Customs revenue is increasing, but considered, that he was giving an effective answer to complaints when he added: “that this is due simply to the fact of the increase in trade and the increases in the cost of articles coming into tin's country.” What he wanted to do, he continued, was to leave the revision of the Customs tariff over until next session when it could be completely overhauled. As a. parting shot,’ Mr Massey declared that the only increase in Customs taxation made in recent years 'that affected the workers directly was the higher tax bn tea. We think it would interest our readers to quote the figures asi to the values of a number of articles amongst the imports to this Dominion for the first seven

Tiiontjis of 1919 as aga'wit tho initial seven months of 1./-9- ; 7 nitlis. 7 rath--1919 1920 Apparel W&* U*M* t> f i: ... .•« m for ... •—•

Nobody will quarrel with Mr. Massey’s contention that, with one or two exceptions, no increases in the rate of Customs duties have been made. But, surely, the Premier understands that, in view cf -Jthe fact that every class of article wh c!i has to he imported into this Dominion has risen greatly in price in the country of origin, the imposition of Customs duty even on the old rates adds unnecessarily to the burden of cost to the consumer? Wo feel that it i s the duty of the government to assess Customs duty not on to-day’s value of any article in the country of origin hut as near as possible on the pre-war value. If that were done it would assist greatly in reducing the cost of living in this country sooner or later. All classes of the people are clearly ovar-taxed—in particular indirectly —<on account of the failure of the government to adopt the principle to which we have just referred.

U.kos, JncluUrino or 49,577 121,712 U -ivc7c> Books, papers music Boots, etc Carpeting, etc. , .... 162.257 221,772 177,427 155,145 255,347 683,610 344,625 280,465 Cocoa, etc. Confectionery Drapery Chinawaro, etc. Fi u h 59,112 59,248 138,988 60,259 68,344 102.807 270,378 187,086 185,321 167,068 Currants Raisins 9,118 22,192 1,057 99,833 304,109 122,703 1 igs Fresh' fruits Furniture 58,960 23,856 122,043 44,525 Glassware . 138,150 358,142 231,267 676,585 Hardware 205,086 377,829 93,412 ,173,886 Iron, bar etc. 39,968 205,328 142,926 478,825 Leather 144,727 439 692 ,, mauuf. 62,580 127,466 Millinery 65,837 97,342 Benzine 245,340 443,401 Gasolene 163,165 414,237 Kerosene 50,068 158,259 Paints, etc 141,377 405.428 Race 22,944 105.816 Whisky 191,045 189,869 Sugar 582.196 744.533 150,234 306,633 878,654 Woollens 994,610 Sawn Timber 59,666 221,692 Tobacco 393,353 429.746 Cigarettes 322,234 \ 466,161 Tools 132,374 189,752 Motors ... 434.224 1.499,801 Other items . 5 ,150,709 8,526,737