TAX ON CHURCH LANDS

Otago Witness, Issue 3312, 5 September 1917, Page 21

TAX ON CHURCH LANDS

CRITICISED BY AUCKLAND CLERGY. Tho Government proposal to remove the exemption from land tax hitherto enjoyed by land utilised exclusively for religious or charitable purposes has been received in Auckland with surprise. Dr Averill (Anglican Bishop), when asked for his opinion to-day, remarked that the Government's decision was rather a blow, considering that the various Anglican Church trusts administered in tho Auckland diocese wore endeavouring to invest the sum of about £12,000 in the War Loan. "Avery large part of the income of the Maori and Melanesian Missions, St. John's College, and the various Maori schools," he added,

" comes from endowments —in some cases almost the whole. We do not know at present how the tax will affect us, hut it is certain to. be a handicap upon our work. Most of the lands we hold are held for tho benefit of the church throughout the dominion, and the whole of the income from them is needed for mission and other work. I do not think that we shall make any protest," said Dr Averill. " The Government has decided upon it, and we must do our bit, though the tax will be a handicap upon us." The Rev. Father Holbrook (Chancellor of the Auckland Roman Catholic diocese) stated that he was surprised at the Government's new move, which really impoesd a tax on education and charity—almost the 'ast things that should be taxed. All the lands of the Catholic Church in New Zealand were held for ihe benefit of the people, and probably the same could bo said of the lands owned by all other religious bodies. Nearly tho whole of them consisted of church, school, and,orphanage sites and endov ment lands, the income from which was used in the cause of education. There was no question of profit, and the imposition of a tax would simply mean that operations must bo curtailed. "The Government," he added, "is allowing us the samo rate per capita for children in our orphanage as it allowed in tho year 1882, although the prices of commodities have g-one up greatly sincethen, and especially since tho war. If we aro taxed, I see no way out of it but to apply to the Government for increased grants."