LUXURY TAX IN JAPAN.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 6 October 1924, Page 4

LUXURY TAX IN JAPAN.

A MEANS TO AID NATIONAL ECONOMY. Japan, whose introduction to Western customs and habits was made less than seventy-five yeears.ago, has reached in that time the point where a luxury tax is considered wise, declares the “New York Times.” There has been such a tax on certain imports for years, but the Government now has determined to levy a duty amounting to 100 per cent, ad valorem on about 250 articles classed as luxuries. Two reasons are given for the move: economy and the desire to curb the national taste for foreign articles. Of all the Eastern peoples the Japanese are, perhaps, the least frugal, ffhey are a pleasure loving race, and for the last few generations their national wealth has increased. Naturally enough, they began to buy many articles which are considered luxuries, and acquaintance with Western civilisation has made the people want things that their grandfathers never dreamt of. This has its disadvantages, as well as its pleasant side. Like England. Japan is a, nation of traders. Importing and exporting, buying, selling, shipping—these are the bases of their economic life, and. when imports overbalance exports, when purhasing exceeds selling it is necessary f o find a wav of restoring the balance. Since the crippling effect of the earthquake last vear the Japanese Diet has instituted a. programme of economy, " hich is now to preclude the buying of pleasure car*, of foreign wines, jewels, canned American foods, chocolate candy, camera films, and various other things dear to the heart of wealthy Japanese families. It i? somewhat difficult for the Western mind to fancy a little Japanese girl with • a passion for chocolate bars; or to picture the lovely ladies one sees on the embroidered tapestries wielding a can opener over soup or beans. Not because these things are distinctly Occidental, hut because one had always gained the impression that Japanese children revelled in fresh fruits, which are so much better than ‘ candy; and that native vegetables were better and more wholesome than canned vegetables. Also, that sake, which contains about 16 per cent, alcohol, was preferred to the liquors of other nations; and that foreign clothes could not compare witlff the native dress for beauty of fabric or colour. But the luxury tax proves that the Japanese are not content with native products alone. However, a few articles that might be deemed luxuries are exempt from the high tax adopted on 17th July by the Diet. Moving picture films, for example, even though there has recently been agitation against American films. In the exempt list are baseball, tennis and football outfits and accessories. The Japanese are keen to encourage athletics, as. indeed, they are quick to adopt anything the mevit of which is plain to them. Consider milk. Forty years ago they used no milk; after a, baby was weaned the “chief of his diet” was changed to other food. Rut after studying the matter and recognising its value, the Japanese forthwith incorporated that form of nourishment into theiri diet. And so the new tax does not bpplv to things that would strengthen-and develop the body. Opponents of the new law in Japan say it will -result in a general increase in the cost 1 of living, that the standard wifi, be lowered, and that the-measure will react fioon the export trade unfavs ourably. On the other hand, those in favour of the law feel that it is a ; wise measure and will assist the economy policy of the Government. ’ >