NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20599, 25 June 1930, Page 10

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

LIMITS OF TAXATION*. The mischievous effect of high taxation on industry was emphasised by Sir William Plender, in his presidential addross at the animal meeting of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. " I view with great misgiving," ho said, "the growth of unproductive expenditure in the national Budget, the' heavy burdens of so-called social services and improvements, and the rising rates and taxes, all of which contribute to tho burdens of which our industrialists must bear their share. The incidence of taxation also gives cause to disturb our complacency, and its mischievous effect on a comparatively small and limited section of the community, which has hitherto mainly provided capita! for new enterprises and development, may be fraught with serious danger. There is a limit, already passed, by which our expenditure should be measured. No State I*B justified in incurring expenditure in peace. time which, though desirable in itself, is not a necessity, if by so doing trade is crippled, initiative damped, and expansion discouraged, through tax exactions imposed that may be alluring to the electorate."

MEDICAL CAREERS IN FRANCE. The Confederation of French Medical Organisations has decided to address a circular letter to students who may be contemplating a medical career, as well as to their teachers and parents, warning them against the dangers of overcrowding in this profession. Striking figures are quoted. It is stated that at the Faculty of Medicine of Paris, where fewer than 500 news students a year were registered eight years ago, there are now a thousand new students. In 1900 the number of doctors in France was 16,815. By 1928 it had increased to 27,500, although the population had only increased from 38,442,600 to 40,743,000. It is urged that a "medical plethora" would bo accompanied by grave moral and material dangors for members of the profession, many of whom, as the reports of benevolent associations prove, are already faced with serious difficulties. In order to reduce the number of students efforts arc to be made to have the difficulty of the yearly examinations increased. The circular letter romirids all those who dream of becoming doctors that the expenses during the poriod of study are certainly not less than £9OO.

PREFERENCE IN CANADA. " Tho principles upon which Mr. Dunning has proceeded aro quite definite, and it is essential to a proper understanding of Canada's position to make this clear,"' says the Canadian Gazette, in explanation of tho Government's tariff proposals. "They aro threefold: —(1) When neither Britain nor Canada produces a commodity, as low a general tariff as possible; (2) where Canada does not produce and Britain docs, free entry of British goods with a general tariff; and (3) where Canada docs produco, tariff protection, usually with preference. On imports which last year reached a value of some £40,000,000, British. trade receives important concessions, and in 589 tariff items out of 1188 it will enjoy a free entry into the Canadian market. Only in 11 items has the duty on British goods been increased, whilo it has been lowered in no fewer than 270. To sum up in general percentages it may bo said that whereas United States exports to Canada increased from £9 4s per head in 1912 to £l4 18s in 1928, tho British exports to Canada increased from £3 8s to £3 17s only. In iron and its products, which benofit most by tho now schedule, British exports per head actually declined by 15.2 per cent, in tho same period, whilo United States exports to Canada increased by 88.6 per cent. It is for British traders to tako advantage of this new position. Canada has mado these concessions to British industry without any bargaining for corresponding concessions. Sho has asked for nothing in return. Thev are, as Mr. Dunning said, designed simultaneously to serve the best interests of the Canadian peoplo and to enable Canadians to buy freely from those countries which buy most freely from Canada."-