TAXATION COMMISSION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 7 April 1924, Page 2

TAXATION COMMISSION

I.AIIOU K P ROTE,ST AGATNST PERSONNEL

(United Press Association.)

WESTPORT. April 4. When the announcement was first tatle that a [{oval Commission consistng of Mr Justice Sim and four bo siless men was to be set. up to inquire nto the present system of land ami inomo taxation, Mr 11. E. Holland, healer nf liie Labour Party, telegraphed u the. Print*? Minister protesting against eproseniation on tlu; Commission being unfilled i n one pent ion of the com•luiiity, end urging that- the organised writers be given at least equal rrprecoiUitieri with the business elements. The following telegraphic eorrespondnce has since passed between the Prime linister and Mr Holland:

"Wellington, hat April.—Your tclet'iini received. If 1 wanted to overload he Commission and make it- impossible or any good results to aecrue J. would allow your suggestion. The men being ppointed are reliable and able business non in whom the country will have eonidence.- and others interested will be re 1 corne to come'along and give evilenec on matters in which they are confirm'd. My object is to got,some sound ecoinmendatinns to place before Parliaaent. as soon as opportunity offers.— W. E. Massey.’’

"Westport, 2nd April.—Tfhnnks for ■vire. I fail to see liovv the Commission vould. be overloaded if it consisted of. ay, two business men and two from vorkers’ organisations. 1" submit there ■vould be. no difficulty in getting men ram the Labour ranks as reliable and is able as those from the. business ranks, nd in whom the country would have piite as much confidence, and who would be equally capable of framing sound •ecommendations to Parliament on the axation question. 1 very respectfully >ut verv strongly urge re consideration. -11. E.‘ Holland'.”

“JRakaia, 3rd April.—Your telegram received. r lTie gentlemen recommended for appointment to the Taxation Commission have been selected irrespective nf party, Actional or local considerations, but simply because they are thoroughly reliable and experienced business men, with a good knowledge of economics, who would be able to arrive at a decision which I am. confident will be valuable both to Parliament and the citizens of this country. —-W. F. Massev.” ,

[ "'Westport, 4th April.—l have to thank you for your latest- wire. I infer from'it that the proposal to appoint business men only to the Royal Commission on Taxation will not be. re-considered. Without in any way • reflecting on the capabilities, and integrity of the gentlemen whom it , is proposed to appoint, I am confident that the fact of the Commissioners being drawn solely from the ranks of, the employers, and the consequent narrowing down of the Commission to that school bf economic thought, will -render a report far less valuable than would otherwise be the case. Furthermore, I have very grave doubts as to whether representative working men and women capable of rendering valuable assistance will care to figure as witnesses before a Commission of such importance on which they are denied representation.—H. E. Holland. ,r

S.O.S. SIGNAL”

COMMENT BY MR WILFORD

WELLINGTON, April 5. Strong terms were used this morning by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr T. M. Wilford), in an interview with the. Evening Post in condemning the action of the Government in setting up a Commission to inquire into the present system jof land and income taxation. “I am entirely and absolutely opposed,” said Mr Wilford, “to the setting up of the present Taxation Commission. Over a week before the Commission-was set. up I predicted through the columns of *.he Eve mg Post that, the Government. would take the course it has taken in setting up a Commission, for 1 know, and every member of our party knows, that the Government, has no definite po liey on any question, let alone that of taxation. I look upon the setting up of this Commission as an S.O.S. signal of distress, because the Government is bereft of initiative, and is afraid to conicdown with a policy of its own and stand or fall" by it. I consider that all the discussion about the appointment of a ■Judge as chairman is important. Conititutiorial!y, it is, inadvisable to drag the Judiciary into the arena of party politics, and, while I realise that no one is more competent than a Judge of the Supreme Court to preside over many Commissions, I feel that the Government has acted "unwisely in this case in ap pointing a Judge as chairman. I believe that the Judge chosen would be the last to wish to be made a target in any discussion in the House of Representatives. I know the Standing Orders relating to the rights of, members ot Parliament discussing Judges as Judges, and I do not believe that any Speaker will hold that the finding of the Judge will be free, from Rarliamentnry criticism.

“If a Commission is to bo set up,"’ said Mr Wilford, “and in my opinion it should not be, then it should be done by way of motion in the House of Representatives, moved by the Prime Min ister, and his motion should contain the names of the persons to constitute the proposed Commission. A copy of the proposed order of reference should be supplied to all members before the debate on the question. This the present Government would never dare to do. I am totally opposed to a Government submitting a question of taxation to a Commission and the result of the last Taxation Commission justifies such opposition. If the. Prime Minister persists in setting up a Commission every interest affected should be represented.”

DA IPV FARMERS’ REPRESENT A TIONS

PALMERSTON N., April 4. On behalf of the Dairy Farmers’. Union Mr P. ,T. Small, provincial president, has sent a telegram to the Prime Min ister ns follows: —“Consider it unfair to producers that- Taxation Commission should consist of business men only. Strongly urge equal representation, as question is of equal if not- greater importance to farmers. Also consider it unfair to take evidence in four centres only. Such procedures would certainly favour business and city men. .Sl/bnglv urge equal facilities should be given by including main inland towns in Commis Sion’s itinerary.’’