THE BURDEN OF TAXATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16359, 1 October 1913, Page 8

THE BURDEN OF TAXATION.

lx tho course of a sitting lasting an hour and a half yesterday afternoon the Legislative Council passed the second readings of two important taxation Bills, and although the discussions were marked by striking brevity they were distinctly interesting. Even if no actual business had been transacted the afternoon could not have been considered wasted, seeing that it produced Mr John Duthie’s notable declaration that the working olasses in tho dominion were not bearing a fair share of taxation. There are moments, and this is one of them, when wo could wish that all taxation in New Zealand were direct. Obviously, if every father of a family had to pay out his share of the tax burden every year in good red gold he would taxe a keener interest in politics and politicians and the expenditure of the money even than he does at present. This is by the way. The merit of direct taxation in the present connection is that it would prevent legislators like the Hon John Duthie from making assertions that are flagrantly contrary to fact. Some ingenious Reformer will doubtless accuse us, on tho strength of this reflection, of advocating the abolition of indirect taxation, but wo have no mind to follow red herrings just now. It will bo interesting to learn how many of Mr Duthie’s political friends hold his view or will have the courage to state it. The obvious meaning of the Reform stalwart’s declaration is that if the Government needs more money it ought to raise it through the Customs or by reducing the exemption under tho income tax, these being tho obvious ways of reaching the pockets of tho working man. Mr Bell, at any rate, so interpreted tho observation, for he said emphatically that tho Government was not going to increaso the 1 import duties. Tho Minister is shrewd enough to know that tho Government that proposed to squeeze a little moro money out of the poorer classes of the community would have a very short life, and as his own party’s tenure of offico is precarious it is not at all likely to invito disaster, at any rate consciously. On tho other hand, wo find small evidence of any indecent haste on tho part of the Reformers to fulfil their promises to reduce the burden borne by tho workers. We gladly give them credit for the tiny measure of relief proposed to bo afforded to fathers of families in the

matter of income tax. But hotv many factory hands and manual labourers pay income tax? When the Reformers get on tho platform next year they will tell the public all about their generosity to the fathers struggling to support five children on £8 10s a wee!;, but they must not expect any riotous applause from the pick and shovel man, trying to raise eight children on £2 10s a week, and intermittent pay at that-. Tho pick and shovel man apparently has not yet obtruded himself on tho vision of tho Reformer, and until ho does he will have to ho content with tho Hon John Duthio’s assuranco that ho is not bearing his fair share of taxation.