A TAXPAYERS' UNION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22878, 5 November 1937, Page 15

A TAXPAYERS' UNION

Sir, —It would appear to tho writer that at the present time in New Zealand thousands of people have become aware, consciously or subconsciously, that, per the instrumentality of tin ballot box, they can obtain bread and many other things. Work and the standard thereof are not everything now. What economists term "the progressiveness of human wants" has led to moro and more demands on that weak disunited body of citizens tho payers of land and income tax. Where wiil it end? Each Parliamentary election is in some ways little better than an auction, both sides promising this and that, at the debit, of course, of the unfortunates referred to above, ft is not hard to guess the ultimate result. Wholesale bankruptcy and worse must follow if tho present state of affairs continues long enough. One need not scratch far below the surface to learn why. Each taxpayer has only one vote, and is badly outnumbered. W'hat is he„to do? It is suggested that the time is ripe for the brake to be applied to a certain extent. Let consolidation of what has been gained by the masses be effected before more demands are made and conceded. Let tlie State trading departments pay land and income tax. like those they compete against. Let land and income taxes be above all things fair taxes in their entirety, and not, as they appear to be in danger of becoming, instruments of oppression for which, by the way, the Land and Income Tax Department is in no way responsible. It is suggested that, without loss of time, an association of taxpayers bo formed on the lines of an association of the kind that exists in Australia. Unity is strength. Will a sufficient number of thoughtful taxpayer people come forward to help themselves, or are they too timid or indifferent to do anything? Onlooker.