PROPOSED INCREASE OF TAXATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14819, 24 October 1911, Page 5

PROPOSED INCREASE OF TAXATION.

Sir, —I note with alarm a report presented to Parliament by the Honorable Minister' for Customs, prepared by his chief seneschal Mr. M.- P. Cameron, hardware expert for the Customs Department, in which ho recommends an increased duty of from 20 per cent, to 45 per cent, on various lines of implements and machinery. I have no doubt whatever that Mr. Cameron well knew the mind of the Cabinet when preparing his report, and that wo shall see erelong an attempt made by the Government of the day, if we are foolish enough to re-, turn them to office, to give the screw another turn or two, and still further : add to the taxes already being extorted -from- the fanners, miners, millowners, and others purchasing machinery in the frantic endeavour to bolster up an engineering ring that exists in New Zealand. However, Mr. Cameron is naturally biassed in his report, as he has been engaged for years by the Department to see that the last penny is wrung from the unhappy consumer, and it will be difficult to convince- the taxpayer that implements, engines, boilers, etc., tout are already protected by duty, freight, etc., to the extent of from 45 per ■ cent to 90 per cent, -should be-still further protected in. the interests of a ring of ironmasters who are too somnolent to go out afte"r business, as other trades are compelled to do. -As on© who spent many years on . the farm, and whoso interests are with the i farmer, I sincerely hope that in every country electorate they will see to it that no candidate is returned who docs not pledge himself to vote against any further increase of . the tariff as set out.by the Auckland Provincial Farmers' Union. Only by doing this will wo be able to escape the payment "of the extra 33a per cent, which the trade ring are even to-day boasting' that " they are going to have imposed. ' "Yeomax.