TAXATION RELIEF.

Northern Advocate, 29 July 1924, Page 3

TAXATION RELIEF.

POSITION OF THE PRODUCERS.

"Much needed relief from war taxation was, I am glad to say, provided by the Government during last session •of Parliament, , ' remarked the president (Mr W. J. Poison) at the'annual conference of the New Zealand Farmer*, Union. "The double system of ■taxation—taxation on our tools of profaction and taxation on the income we eained from it, has been v done away wilS. For this great credit is due to the Prime Minister. It ■would Lave beea easy for him to' give way to popular clamour and allow the producers to carry the burden imposed on 'them by the war. But the burden of taxation borne by the New Zealander U still far too heavy. If we compare the 1922 taxation with the taxation for that year of France, and the TTaited States, as typical States, we are able to see at a glance the comparative load we carry.

*' Those are surely -sufficiently arrest--sng figures. It must be pointed out in- fairness to the Government that 3ast year's figures show a reduction, 3but no doubt the figures for Prance and the United States, which are not available, show a reduction also. The collection of a high rate of direet tion invariably reacts detrimentally. It tampers and handicaps industry and, production and prevents employment. If we are to Hx&re a further reduction in taxation w the near future we must insist =upon the maintenanace of economy in -our Public Service. Just now we have another Taxation Commission's report in process of digestion. I imagine that report will not be palatable to producers While we admit the fairness of income tax properly applied, we are certainly not going to stand double taxation—land and income tax. The Government which seeks to reimpose it will sign its own death warrant ae far as the producers are concerned."

£ s. d. £ s, d. £ g. d Eraace .. 3 6 8 2 10 0 5 16 8 America 2 14 02404 18 0 Ne# Zealand 9 1 11 4 11 2 13 13 1