DISCUSSION OF REMITS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19956, 25 November 1926, Page 15

DISCUSSION OF REMITS.

(Pee United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, November 24. The delegates at the conference of the Chambers of Commerce to-day advocated that the income tax exemption to unmarried persons bo fixed at £2OO. Soma delegates said that unmarried women should not be taxed, while others thought the exemption figure suggested for males should be still further reduced. In view of the United States substantially increasing the Customs duty on New Zealand dairy produce a remit was presented at the conference urging that the Government should amend the Customs tariff on American manufactures to discourage their importations with the hope of searing better treatment for our exported produce. Mr Smith (Feilding) saifl that in 1925 New Zealand bought goods from America valued at £8,?85,000. while in return America purchased from New Zealand goods of the value of £1,349,000. an adverse balance of £4.500.000. After discussion the remit was reieotod. The Minister of Customs is to be urged to continue his efforts towards effecting a more satisfactory tariff arrangement between New Zealand and Australia. Regarding the basic wage question it was stated that notwithstanding the existence of a seriously adverse national trade balance an increased rate of wages bad become automatically payable. The formula was based on the assumed domestic requirements of a man. hi* wife and two children, and, as only 11 per cent, of the wageearners possessed these responsibilities, the remainder were on this basis overpaid. The conference expressed the opinion that the burden of taxation borne by commerce and industry was too heavy and was a hindrance to the full revival of trade. Further, that the present incidence of taxation had caused a regrettable diversion of capital and labour from rural and urban areas to the neglect of the primary industries. Regret was expressed that the Government had failed to carry into effect the recommendations of the Special Committee on Taxation in 1922. and of the unanimous report of the Royal Commission of 1924. and the principle of a graduated tax on incomes. It was suggested that power boards, municipal and State trading enterprises which enter into competition with private enterprises should be liable for _ taxation on the same basis as similar trading firms or corporations.