TAXATION FIGURES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22630, 23 July 1935, Page 6

TAXATION FIGURES

RELATION TO NATIONAL INCOME HIGH AGGREGATE THIS YEAR NEED FOR RELIEF A review of Government taxation during recent years was made by the retiring president (Mr C. B. Barrowclough) in his address at the annual meeting ot the Chamber of Commerce last night. Mi Barrowclough expressed the opinion that the business community might now reasonably look for some relief in the matter of taxation.

The was not, at any time, exempt from criticism on matters of taxation, said Mr Barrowclough, nor was it unreasonable that those who contributed to Government funds should be heard on the matter. Particularly was this the case when economic stress had brought the producer, the manufacturer, the importer, and the coilsnmer alike to such dire straits as have prevailed in recent years. The value of New Zealand s exports in recent years had been as follows: 1928 £56,188,481 1929 £55,579,063 1930 £44.940,692 1931 £35,153,028 1932 £36,965,780 1933 £41,301,951 1934 £47,901,000 '■ With such reduction in our national income,” he asked, “ how does taxation stand? Taxation per head during the same years was as follows: —-

“Assuming that local body taxation is the same ns the last year for which figures are available, the total taxation per head for the year ended March 31, 1935, was £l9 16? lOd. The aggregate revenue from Government taxation in 1934-35 was the highest ever recorded in New Zealand, and the Government taxation revenue per head for that year has been exceeded only once, in 1921. And in 1921 the local body taxation was only £3 Os lid per head as compared with £3 18s 3d, the last figure available. In view of these figures it would seem that the commercial community may reasonably look for some relief in the matter of taxation. The Associated Chambers are fully alive to the position, and some aspects of taxation are receiving their attention.”

1928 Government. £ s. d. 11 17 7 Local Body. £ s. d. 4 4 10 Total. £ s. cl. 16 2 5 1929 12 4 3 4 6 11 16 11 2 1930 13 3 7 4 8 7 17 12' 2 1931 12 12 1 4 2 5 16 14 6 1932 11 9 6 3 19 5 15 8 11 1933 12 17 9 3 15 2 10 12 11 1934 13 18 7 3 18 3 17 16 10 1935 15 18 7 Not available.