THE PEOPLE'S BURDEN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16606, 18 July 1914, Page 14

THE PEOPLE'S BURDEN.

REFORM'S BROKEN PROMISES.

MINISTERIAL DENIALS.

"TAKE BACK PROMISES OR REDUCE TAXATION." £F»om Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, July 17.

When tho Land Tax and Income Tax Bill was before the House for its second reading this afternoon Sir Joseph Ward asked if the Minister of Finance would supply tho House with information as to the effect of the stepping system introduced by the Minister (tho Hon J. Allen) respecting land tax. The leader of the Opposition went on to say that many people wore now paying more laud tax than they had previously paid and he would like to know by how much the alteration made had increased tho taxation and the number of taxpayers. Tho Prime Minister contended that there had not been any increase in tho rate of land tax levied since his Government came into power. The only people who were paying increased land tax were those whose valuation had increased. Mr Massey went on to refer to speeches made in tho country by Sir Joseph Ward. Sir Joseph Ward denied having made any statement that the Government had increased Customs duty. \\ hat he had said was that prior to last general election the present Prime Minister had declared that taxation was too high and that since that time taxation had gone up by 10s Id per head. Ho Quoted statistics and returns to support his contention.

Tho Prime Minister again contended that the leader of tho Opposition j had suggested increased taxation by ! the Massey .Government. "We have j not increased Customs taxation by.ono penny," said Mr Massey, adding: "I ; did intend to refer to those speeches I bv the leader of the Opposition in my speech on the Address-in-Reply de- I bate." Mr Russell: Then why did you not? I The Prime Minister: Because tho piffle from the other s ; de of the House | was not worth a reply. (Scornful Op- j position laughter.) j Sir Joseph Ward pointed out that he had quoted figures not of his own pre- ; paration, but from records of the Government itself. " I defy anybody to j take cut the figures and show that I have made any misstatement," ho added, holding up the papers in question. WORST PLEDGE BREAKERS. Mr Russell said that the Prime Minister should either take back every one of his promises that he was going to reduce taxation or bring down a Bill to reduce taxation, "out," declared the member for Avon, despairingly, " they are in fact the worst pledge breakers that have ever sat on those Treasury benches. (Loud laughter from the Treasury benches). I don't wonder that for once in hislife the Minister of Finance has the appearance of a shamed man." (Roars of Government merriment). Mr Russell proceeded to search, so to speak, for concessions to the masses of the people by the present Government and failed to find any "No, all the concessions given have been to tho wealthy and the owners of property. Tho taxation on the mass of the people has increased by no less than £1,097,000 a year sinco this Government came 1 into office, about £1 per head," he added amid vigorous applause from tho Liberal benches and silence on the Reform side. Mr Payne declared that the Govern- j raenfc was anxious to retain office | simply to save its wealthy friends from increased taxation. j MINISTER'S REPLY. | The Hon J. Allen in reply asked the member for Avon what he had to say about the reduction of taxation on widows. . He did not vote against the exemptions in the case of children on income tax. No, he did not have the courage of his convictions, if he had them. | Mr Speaker called the Minister to order for applying such an inference to an honourable member. ] Mr Allen proceeded to say that the leader of the Opposition had the courage to say that he would not support a proposal to reduce taxation last year. Opposition members: No, no. Mr Allen continued that last year was riot an opportune time for reducing taxes. As to any alteration in the step system it never did apply ' to the ordinary land tax. It was pure j nonsense to suggest that any alter- j ation was made last year in the or- , dinary land tax. The step system was j unfair, and was removed by the pre- j sent Government.