TOTE AND TAXATION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13701, 3 June 1915, Page 7

TOTE AND TAXATION.

NO SPECIAL LEVY FUR WAR FUND.

(Special to Herald.) AUCKLAND, this ch.y. An important- statement was made by the Prime Minister yesterday respecting the much-debated question of a special war tax. The subject was introduced by a deputation from the Sports Protection League, consisting of Messrs John Rowe, R. B. Lusk, C. K. Major, C. H. MeKinney, H. Hayr, and F." Edwards. Mr Rowe was spokesman for the deputation. He said there was some apprehension amongst sports bodies concerning a likely increase m 'taxation. It had been suggested m the newspapers and elsewhere that the totalisator should be "submitted to a special war tax. Already this season the totalisator had paid £110,000 taxation, and taxation m this direction could be truly said to have leached its utmost limit. It might be news to the Premier to learn that there were only three racing clubs m New Zealand that could bo really declared solvent.

The Prime Minister, m reply, said he did not quite know where all the talk of a war lux came from, since there was really no need at the present time for anything m the nature of a special war tax. The prosperity of the' ,counti-y was so great that he certainly did not contemplate the necessity for a war tax this year. Any extra expenditure arising out of the \v»r could be met, he thought, out of general revenue, or at most with a slight increase on existing methods of taxation. New Zealand had been successful :>? securing an arrangement with the Homo Government by which it would receive all the expenditure at the comparatively cheap rate of 4 per cent. They could quite easily go on m this way for a year at least. The war, however, might continue \for some time, and it would no doubt bo, wise for the country to prepare for contin gencies arising out of the war. \ There fore Parliament would be asked to pro vide for a slight increase m general taxation. ' Cabinet -had not yet decided upon what course it would pursue, but would meet before the session began, to discuss the matter m /all its. details. Personally, however, he' foresaw no likelihood of a special war tax having a bearing on any one section of Ihe community such as the Sports Protection League seemed to fear. The deputation expressed its keen appreciation of tho nature of the Prime Minister's reply-.