TAXATION OF AUSTRIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17113, 19 March 1919, Page 7

TAXATION OF AUSTRIA.

IMPOST UPON PROPERTY. PRELIMINARY CENSUS. Australian and N.Z. Cftblo Aflfocilltion. (Reed. 6.15 p.m.) VIENNA. Mar. 17. Prenarntory to the imposing of a property tax. the inhabitants of Ger-man-Austria have been ordered to declare their possessions in ninnev, securities, shares, deposits, or mortpapros, and also articles of luxury acquired since 1014.

The rhaot ; c state of Austrian finance and 1 the erowine burden of taxation were described recently by the Vienna correspondent of a London paper, who wrote :— Numerous meetings have been held in Vienna during the last fortnight by representatives of industry and' commerce to protest acainst the present pract : ces of the commissioners for the assessment of income and war excess profit taxes, and also to demand the resignation of the Minister for Finance, Dr. Stoinwendor. It is said that the methods of the inland revenue authorities and the tax-collectors have been in many cases so draconic that taxpayers havo been driven to despair and even to suicide. On the other hand, the Government is compelled to make the most energetic efforts to fill its empty coffers, as otherwise there Will soon be no money to pay the coupons of the war loans and the salaries of the irigantie army of Civil servants. How serious is the financial situation in German-Austria appears from a recent utterance of the Minister for : nance in the National Assembly to the. effect that the country may not be able. to fulfil all its obligations. This bint of a financial crash naturally caused great excitement, particularly among the holders of war loan certificates. It is absolute y necessary that the public revenue should be increased, as the deficit for the present year amounts to no less than £100.000.000. The interest and sinking fund of the State debts alone swallow up £65.000,000.