ONE INCOME TAX

Grey River Argus, 5 June 1942, Page 4

ONE INCOME TAX

For Australia SENATE PASSES BILLS. •* (Rec. 12.5). CANBERRA, Jun 4 4. Australia will now have uniform taxation. The Government’s legislation has been passed by the Senate (by twenty votes to twelve, after an 1 all-night session. I Four members of the Opposition supported the Government. In winding up the debate, the Minister of Customs (Senator Keane), referred to the Opposition challenging the constitutional validity of the I legislation. “The Government has ; taken every possible legal, safe- [ guard,” he said. “If the day ever comes to this country when the High I Court interferes with the considered decisions of the elected representatives of th e people, its position may have to be looked into.” The Opposition moved to reduce, the compensation payable to New i South Wales from £15,356,000 to £l3.- | 726,000. This move was defeated, j The Deputy-Leader of the Oppo- i sition, Senator Mcßride, said the ! Government had not taken into ac- I count relief '.which New South Wales would obtain from certain social services taken over by the Commonwealth. ~ i

Senator Keane said that the compensation payable was based on the average collection of the States, and taken on 1939-40 and 1940-41 incomes. The Commonwealth, in taking over the payment for social services, would reduce only the New South Wales deficit.

Not During War NATIONALISATION OF BANKING

(Rec. 12.0.) CANBERRA, June 4. The Labour Party objective of nationalisation of banking should H'K be introduced during - the war, said the Prime Minister (Mr Curtin), in the House of Representatives. He was replying to Mr Spender, who asked whether the Prime Minister had stated that nationalisation or banking could not be put into effect because the Government lacked a majority in both Houses. Mr Curtin added that .it was considered that the measure should not be introduced because of the war’s requirements and the state of the political parties in the two Houses. “This: Government came into office at a time 01 great emergency. It does not abandon its social programme," he said,

“but it does not regard postponement until the war is won as an illogical procedure. Where the war can be served by applying general 1 Labour principles to certain aspects of national structure they will beapplied but no sectional political programme will be pursued except for such part, as is in the best interest of the nation in the war.”