THE BURDEN OF TAXATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20642, 14 August 1930, Page 14

THE BURDEN OF TAXATION.

Sir, —To economise is unpopular, uui that method is tho only ono that will prove effective in New Zealand's present financial circumstances,. As a start the. cost of governance should be reduced. I would be in favour of abolishing the Legislative Council and reducing tho quota of the House of Representatives, by 25 per cent. This would leave\ 60 members, surely sufficient material to govern 1,600,000 people. Our Constitution of 1852 and our Dominion status of 1907 give us ample power to make these changes. Only by a national stocktaking and close scrutiny of expenditure can tho country be benefited. Then close, down unpayable branch railway lines; review the salaries of highly-paid officials: reduce our contribution of £550,000 per annum for defence; cease the bolstering up of Peter Pan industries long protected, but non-expanding. Ifand back to the British Crown tho Sam on n mandate, which has produced for New Zealand neither prestige nor profit. In short, make the burden lighter for the people to bear and modify tor a while, at anv rate, the policy of apeing the ambitions and aspirations of countries of manv times our population. Chas. L. Stevenson.