UNIFORM TAXATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24275, 16 May 1942, Page 8

UNIFORM TAXATION

BILL IN AUSTRALIA COMMONWEALTH SUPREME ("Reed. 12.40 a.m.) CANBERRA, May 15 The Federal Treasurer, Mr. J. B. Chifluy, to-day introduced a bill designed to bring about uniform taxation, with the Commonwealth as the chief taxing authority, a plan which most of the States recently opposed. He said the Commonwealth hoped in this way to obtain additional revenue to the extent of £12,000,000 to £15,000.000. War expenditure in the past three years had totalled £515,000,000, while next year it was likely to reach £360,000,000. Mr. Chifiey pointed out that while Commonwealth obligations had multiplied, those of the States had diminished. National rights must take precedence over all State rights. State rights and State boundaries were an ignoble conception when the nation was in danger. Mr. Chifiey emphasised that under the bill Australian taxpayers would pay only one income tax instead of the many different taxes in operation to-day. and the revenue from particular groups would approximate closely the amount obtained under the present multiple system. Those States which agreed to suspend their taxing power for the duraof the war would receive compensation. explaining fhe schedule to the bill, Mr. Chifiey said company tax would be increased from 4s to 6s in the pound. This rate was expected to produce the same revenue from companies as at present derived from Commonwealth and State rates. The bill was read a first time. COAL INDUSTRY PEACE IN AUSTRALIA (Reed. 12.55 a.m.) CANBERRA, May 15 Speaking to a cheering House, the Prime Minister, Mr. J. Curtin, announced that peace had been restored in the coal industry. Mr. Curtin said he believed some fundamental cause was operating to produce irritation>and confusion and a state of mind which led to so many stoppages. He promised to consider a suggestion by Mr. James, a I coalfields representative in Parliament, that a special committee be set up to consider the situation existing in the coal industry. WORLD CONSPIRACY GRAND JURY INDICTMENTS MANUFACTURE OF DYESTUFFS (Reed. 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, May 14 The Justice Department has announced that the Federal Grand Jury indicted eight corporations and 20 of their officers on a charge of world-wide conspiracy to monopolise the manufacture and sale of dyestuffs. The five American firms indicted were: Dupont de Nemours Company, Allied Chemical Dye Corporation, American Cvanamid Company, General Aniline and Film Corporation, and the General Dyestuff Corporation. The two last-mentioned companies were formerly controlled by I. G. Farben, of the German Chemical Dye Trust. The three other firms are owned and controlled by Swiss Consortium — Ciba Company, Incorporated, Sandoz Chemical Works, Incorporated, and Geigv Company, Incorporated. The indictment named as co-conspirators Establissements Kuhlmann, France, at present controlled by I. G. Farben and Mitsui, Japan. " The Assistant Attorney-General, Mr. Thurman Arnold, said it was another example of the influence of cartels, which resulted not only in exorbitant prices to American consumers, but restricted the full development of the chemical industry to essential war effort. AMERICAN ARMY PAY PROPOSED INCREASES WASHINGTON, May 14 The following table shows the status of the proposed monthly rises in pay for the American forces: — Private, apprentice, seaman: Present base, 30 dollars; votes by Senate* 42 dollars; proposed by the House, 50 dollars. First-class private, second-class seaman: 36, 48 and 54 dollars: Corporal. first-class seaman: 54, 66 and 66 dollars. Sergeant, third-class petty officer: 60, 78 and 78 dollars. Stan-ser-geant, second-class petty officer : 72, 96 and 96 dollars. 1 First and technical sergeant, first-class petty officer: 84, 114 and 114 dollars. Master sergeant, chief petty officer: 126, .138 and 138 dollars. Second-lieutenant, ensign: 125, 150 and 150 dollars. Nurses with less than three years' service would he raised from 70 to 90 dollars, while those with nine years' service or more would be raised to 135 dollars. The House passed to tlio Senate the measure to increase the pay of members of the armed forces. On a roll call the House, by 331 votes to 28. refused to retreat from its tentative action yesterday, but the members of the Military Committee preilii-terl that tlio original 42 dollars voted hv the Senate would he restored after a conference of both Houses to adjust differences.