Manawatu Daily Times Increased Taxation

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6918, 25 May 1929, Page 6

Manawatu Daily Times Increased Taxation

All day and evening classes at tie Palmerston North. Technical school resume on Monday. Ulimaroa left Sydney at one o’clock yesterday for Wellington and Tofua left Suva for Apia at 4 o ’clock. A proposal Iras been introduced into the Italian Chamber to increase duties or. imported wheat and impose an embargo on the importation of foreign grain of inferior quality. Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., has received a telegram from Hon. H. Atmorc (Minister of Education) advising officially that Cabinet has approved a grant of £750 for providing additional dormitory accommodation at the hostel of the Palmerston North Boys’ High school. The telegram also advised that a further grant had been approved in connection with matters under the control of the Palmerston North High Schools Board of Governors.

'J'HE Prime Minister’s frank admission that increased

taxation will be necessary to cover the deficit of last financial year and to meet the requirements of the current year has given rise to many speculations as to the sources from which the additional revenue will be obtained. Beyond stating that many people who have been contributing less than their fair share to the Treasury in the past will be called to account, the Minister has given little indication of the new sources of revenue he will exploit.

It is suggested that the farmers’ income tax, a war measure, that was repealed some time after Sir Joseph Ward’s retirement from the National Cabinet, might be restored without imposing any great hardship upon the men on the land, and that the Customs Tariff might be revised without adding anything to the cost of such commodities as are popularly styled the "necessaries of life.” But these, of course, are merely speculations.

The “Post” in discussing the probable character of the increased taxation quotes a passage from the speech with which Sir Joseph Ward opened his election campaign and suggests that in the circumstances increased company taxation is quite out of the question. “The present system of taxation*,” Sir Joseph is represented as saying, “will be immediately revised, the revision of the scale of income tax reducing the maximum amount, and making the income equitable in its incidence. The present high rate of company taxation will be reduced and linally repealed. The revenue raised by Customs tax constitutes half the total taxes raised in the Dominion. The tariff should be based on the reduction of the cost of living, and those food supplies not locally provided should be put on the free list.”

At that time the present Prime Minister had not access to the public accounts and to-day scarcely can be held to his fair promises.

A final reminder is given to the members of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church of the golden offering to-morrow at both morning and evening services. The sum of £SOO is again being asked for and to attain that result everyone must do his uttermost. It is confidently hoped that the result will bo as gratifying this year as it has been in the past. In to-day's issue will be found the Railway Department’s advertisement in connection with the train arrangements for the King’s Birthday holidays. The races at Otaki on Ist. and 3rd. of Jane are well catered for.

Claims amounting to £33,000 have been made against the Otago Harbour Board by .100 of the recent flood sufferers on the ground that the board allegedly neglected to safeguard the district Under its control. Several of the claimants are holders of Harbour Board leases.