UNIFORM TAXATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24970, 17 July 1942, Page 4

UNIFORM TAXATION

AUSTRALIAN LEGISLATION (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) (Rec. 0.45 a.m.) SYDNEY, July 16. With £12,000,000 additional revenue depending on the High Court upholding the uniform tax legislation, the Commonwealth Government is uneasy over rumours that the court’s decision may not be announced before July 28. The Government's plans for the 19421943 financial year (commencing in July, although tax collections do not begin until August) are based _ upon the assumption that its legislation is constitutional. If the High Court should decide otherwise, such a late announcement would leave the Federal authorities only a few days in which to revise the Budget. Labour leaders have made a forecast that, should the court declare the legislation unconstitutional, a referendum would be held, but this would take six months The Commonwealth Government has planned a colossal outlay of ' £500,000.000 for the next financial year and would certainly fight to the last ditch against the relinquishment of any of its war works. The Government had hoped that the High Court would announce its decision without delay and give reasons for its judgment later. The hearing of the States’ appeal against the uniform taxation legislation concluded on June 30.