THE BURDEN OF TAXATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23055, 4 December 1936, Page 8

THE BURDEN OF TAXATION

TO THE EDITOR

Sir,—Alter reading the letter ol " Taxpaying Frog " this morning, 1 am concerned not only about his spiritual health but also about his mental balance. He has really forgotten all about the object of this discussion. I still think he is labouring under some delusion regarding his allegation that this year's income tax, in general, is nearly trebled, and that it is in respect of some special incidence he is complaining. He has, however, ignored my invitation to clear the matter up. possibly because he is not prepared to admit he could ever make a mistake. Since writing last 1 .can remember some one writing in your correspondence columns at the time this year's taxing proposals were made known This writer was severely castigating the Government for favouring those with an income of £BOO or £9OO a year as against those with £4OO or £SOO a year. He alleged that the increase in the former case was only round about 2 per cent., as against 60 per cent, in respect of the latter —a big difference this compared with "Taxpaying Frog's" "trebling." Your correspondent is quite wrong when he assumes that I seek my information regarding the Government's delinquencies among the devotees of the present regime. I seek them through the correspondence columns of the Daily Times, and, needless to say. this is also a case of taking the proverbial grain of salt with what I find. He accuses me of illogical dogmatism in saying it is no wonder the electors gave the late Government their "running shoes," seeing that a tax nearly trebled imposes no undue hardship What is illogical about this? If the tax imposed on people in an economic position well above the average coula be increased nearly threefold without imposing hardship, would that not prove that the late Government's idea of equity was at fault? Be it remembered that I do not believe that the tax has been nearly trebled: that is his argument; mine is that the present tax imposes no undue hardship He must prove his contention about the trebling and disprove mine about the lack of hardship. Unless he can dr. both these things the late Governmen! must stand condemned for favouring people in easy economic circumstances I contend that he cannot do the latter I have a fair idea of how this year's tax is assessed and what the rate is on any amount up to. say. £IOOO a year income, allowance being made only for the general exemption. Be it also remembered that I do not believe the late Government was so guilt} as to impose a tax that could stand trebling without imposing hardship I merely brought thio point forward to show what a mess " Taxpaying Frog " is getting into through his assertion regarding trebling. He set out to show up the present Government. He mus» now retreat or show up its opponents unless, of course, he admits that it is in respect of some special incidence he is complaining. He should also remember that when he attacks Mr Savage's honesty and integrity his own is in serious jeopardy if he does not mr-.ke some explanation or prove hi? contention. His letter this morning is merely a big smoke screen In default of explanation or proof his writin? cai> onlv be regarded as propaganda I am afraid, however, that my attempt to improve "Taxpaying Frog's" spiritual outlook has not been ver.\ successful. Perhaps things are not so bad as they seem, and his later outbursts may be only the results of a stung conscience. Let us hope he will yet spend a merry Christmas and forget about the phantasmal, dark days oi next February. Since the above was written one "Ajax" accuses me of being utterly ignorant of the present burden of taxation. I plead guilty Moreover, one finds it hard to express repentance for ignorance of something that is only imaginary.—I am, etc., Mosgiel. December 3. F. R. Hall.