WATERSIDERS' EARNINGS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24838, 11 February 1942, Page 9

WATERSIDERS' EARNINGS

TO THE EDITOR

Sir,—Since the watersiders have decided to call "no man master," acting thereby in compliance with the teaching of our Saviour, and have decided to mind their own business instead of having contractors mind it for them, thus dividing among themselves, in addition to wages, the profits their former masters once received, One of your ■ correspondents is greatly disturbed. He may be consoled by reading the gospel of James, wherein he prophesied that the brother of low degree would be exalted and " the rich shall pass away." Surely that cooperative contract system of the waterside workers is a step towards the fulfilment of that prophecy and an Vet in accordance with Christ's teaching. The suggestion'that soldiers should receive wages as high as watersiders now receive is deserving of consideration. But it may be asked who is to be taxed to pay this. Would your correspondent favour all individual incomes over and above the wages of a soldier being confiscated to pay for this and for the War? If that is not meant what does such clamour mean? Is it merely hot air? Would the taxing of all inflated capital by having income tax returns based only on actual capital invested be favoured, thus confiscating what Henry Ford calls dead capital? Would a war moratorium on all debt be favoured so that money now paid in reduction of mortgages, or placed to reserves should be taken into account when taxation is imposed? If taxation were imposed on incomes based on actual original paid-up capital more revenue could be raised as by watering stock, inflating share values, etc., much income tax is now dodged.—l am, etc., 4/1530-