TAXPAYERS' BURDEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22393, 14 April 1936, Page 12

TAXPAYERS' BURDEN

APPEALS FOR RELIEF CAMPAIGN IN AUSTRALIA fFROir'OUR OWN correspondent] MELBOURNE. April 8 Little hope of immediate taxation relief was held out to a deputation which waited on the Prime Minister, Mr. Lyons, and the Federal Treasurer, Mr. Casey, a few weeks ago. The Federated Taxpayers' Associations of Australia, at the annual conference in Melbourne,' considered how best the campaign could be prosecuted, Mr. Casey was challenged by the conference to "assume the honourable role of a statesman and a leader " and it has been suggested that there exists "a statesman's opportunity" to sift the facts and see whether some tax reductions cannot bo allowed.

But Mr. Casey has ignored these appeals, partly because the opening of another session has kept him in Canberra where, incidentally, he and Mr. Lj'ons are the only regularly resident Ministers, and partly because ho liau been exceedingly busy 011 matters connected with the Commonwealth Bank and rate of interest problems. Apart from taxation relief, with particular reference to the sales tax, the land tax and the super tax, the taxpayers' organisations are anxious to secure a degree of uniformity in taxing laws between the States. Victoria has made some progress along this road, but doubt has been expressed whether Treasury officials in some other States are anxious to hasten the process..