UNEMPLOYMENT REPORT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20963, 28 February 1930, Page 8

UNEMPLOYMENT REPORT.

POINT OF VIEtV OF FINANCE. ' PROPOSED EXTRA TAXATION CRITICISED. | (Feb United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, February 27. While accepting the view that the committee was* to' be congratulated: on an‘ heroic effort to deal with a problem of world-wide magnitude, and that .the public would accept the scheme as a basis, Mr H. D. ; Bennett criticises the unemployment report from the point of view of finance. The committee asked for £1,000,000 a year, of which £750,000 was to come.from new taxation.; The imposition of further taxation, _he said, could not be lightly accepted in the country, and' the question must be considered as to the possibilities of the board being provided with funds from existing _ sources. , . '. After speaking of unemployment as st present financed, he says: The bulk of the money comes from legitimate Government sources—viz., the Consolidated Fund —«»d that is where, it should come'frOm now. -He characterises the proposal to tax the IS-year-bld boy and girl as ridiculous in the extreme. Further,* there was a proposal to dabble further ■ with the unimproved value of farmers’ lands. Was it not generally conceded that the system of paying taxes on farming land, good year or bad year, was calling loudly for redress? Once on, taxation usually stayed on. Mr -Bennett also asked why the borough and city ratepayer is called upon to accept portion of this national obligation as peculiarly his own. Lastly, the report is silent upon what is intended to be done with the £1,000,000 a year of expenditure. Surely there was someone who would- benefit from the works, either the public, the borough, or other authorities. Apparently, no provision had been made tor this source of revenue. The boroughs would gladly pay 6s 8d in the £ for work done for it.