MOTHER COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 17038, 13 December 1915, Page 8

MOTHER COUNTRY.

DOUBLE TAXATION.

MANY COLONIAL INTERESTS CONCERNED. BS&; 1 ’ _______ MEETING IN LONDON. t By Telegraph—Pross Association—Copyright. LONDON. December 10. Over a bundled people attended an ( income tax meeting representative of f most of the leading Anglo-Austral-asian institutions, including Dalgety’s, ;. the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, and also many private men with colonial interests. Sir - Westbv Perceval presided, and said it was a poor return for all they had done for the Empire that they should be forced to pay double war taxation. The result of the tax was that capital had Ifi been withdrawn from the colonies when V it was urgently needed, being invested « elsewhere. The meeting resolved' that the infliction of double and in many cases treble income tax on residents, firms and companies ia the United, Kingdom derivv’ ing income from other parts of the Empire was unjust and inequitable and contrary to Imperial interests, and would materially disturb, restrict and' unjustly penalise trade within the Empire, and cause the withdrawal of pre- \ sent investments and prohibit further \ investing of capital and further dona- ' tions, thereby seriously retarding development. A strong committee of business men was appointed to bring the subject before the Imperial and' colonial Govern* jj| roents, with the object of securing an I alteration in the law. ' ■ 1; BACK FROM GERMANY. Bp . • —— . %■ CONDITION OF PRISONERS. It FELT THE EFFECT OF TRADE PRESSURE. ■ 1 • LONDON, December 10. lieutenant Treheme, interviewed, : jonfixms the report of the unsatisfactory conditions prevailing in Germany ■f; for interned alien*. They were fairly comfortable in the earlier stages, but economic 'pressure cut off one article after another, until the oanteen offers little more than daily frugal rations. Even wealthy British are restricted to H' * monotonous and insufficient diet.

:-:.. There was such a scarcity of foodstuffs H that high bribes failed to procure more |;' nourishing food. Australasians at ¥■:': Buhleben would' be specially grateful I g for ; gifts. Friends should send care of the High Commissioner books and par- • eels of food, particularly fat foods, tinned butter, cheese and meats. K Lieutenant Treherne says that despite .:;: appalling monotony, miserable dreariness, cold,' inactivity, ignorance as to ... progress of the war, and overbearing I treatment, which is calculated to crush

\ the spirit of the interned, the men i '■:, at ißuhleben are uniformly cheerful I among themselves, a sprinkling of I • Australians, being the life of the party. Mails are irregular. He is confident I that a secona winter is likely to be 1 critical for the elderly interned men, and equally oppressive to boys. I Mr. Gerard, American Ambassador ■' In Berlin, write* to Sir Edward Grey regarding Wittenberg camp. He says that a formal, satisfactory apology was .... given to a British officer whom a guard I struck. Instructions were then given to guards not to strike prisoners. :, British prisoners are now paid for •work outside the camp. Representations were made protesting against the «se of dogs in internment camps.