PROPOSED WAR TAX

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16338, 22 March 1915, Page 2

PROPOSED WAR TAX

MB BEAUCHAMP INTERVIEWED. (P«b United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, March 21. In the ooiirso of an interview on the subject of a war tax, Mr Harold lieauchamp (chairman of directors of the Bank of New Zealand) said he considered it wisest to avoid anything in the nature of a specific class lax ii possible. Any method involving <t large sum for collection should also be avoided. That was why he suggested a drag net tax of 1 .per cent, on the total amount of the imports and exports, which would yield, say, to £500,000 yearly. Taking the total cost of the war to New Zealand as between £5,500,000 and £6,000,000, the amount suggested would extinguish the capital cost in, say, 14 years, which would constitute no mean achievement. His proposal would be, in his opinion, the most equitable tax conceivable, as no one would be called on to pay more than his means allowed. In the case of a working man with a family of four or five his outside liability would not exceed £1 per annum. He did not agree with the suggestions to increase the postal charges, to raise the tax through the totalisator, or to tax theatre tickets, nor would it be. in the best interests of the community, to increase the income or land tax.