"WONDERFUL COUNTRY"

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16704, 23 July 1928, Page 9

"WONDERFUL COUNTRY"

AMERICAN VISITOR'S PRAISES TAXATION IN UNITED STATES "What I have seen of New Zealand I have enjoyed immensely, and I think yours is a wonderful little country, which reminds me of what California was 40 years ago," said Dr. Mil-bank Johnson, of Los Angeles, California, during- the course of a conversation with a Wellington reporter. Dr. Johnson, who is reported to be one of the greatest authorities on taxation matters in the United (States of America, and who i« the chairman of the Board of the California Tax Payers' Association, is sight-seeing in New Zealand as rapidly as possible. "As I only arrived in Auckland lasf week-end by the Aorangi," he said, "and will be returning again by the same ship at the end of the month, I will not have very much time. My visit, is purely one of pleasure, for I have always wanted to see your country, which has the lure of romance about, it. Coming out on the steamer I met a number of New Zcalanders and. Australians, and I can truly say that they are delightful people—people who, in fact, seem to be more like the American than any other people in the world.'' DECREASING THE DEBT. Talking about matters of taxation in America, Dr. .Johnson said that there were two kinds—Federal taxation and State taxation. Before the war the Federal Government was getting about 60 per cent, of the tax money and the local Government 40 per cent. Times, however, had changed,, and 40 per cent, was now going to the Federal Government and (it) per cent, to the States' local Governments. There was tremendous extavagance in local Government, while the federal Government taxation had been greatly reduced as a result of , thrift and a reduction of debt. "Wo: are struggling to reduce the debt as quickly as possible, and the tax with it," he said. "There is no unemployment in the United States, where there is work for all." SKILLED AND COxMMON LABOR. Speaking on the payment for labor, Dr. Johnson stated that the common labourer in the United States did not get as much money for his toil as the common laborer in New Zealand did. On the other hand, the American skilled laborer was paid higher than the skilled laborer was in this country. As to the scenery of the Dominion, Dr. Johnson said there was only cms word to describe it—"Wonderful!'• The climate was very healthy, and reminded him of the climate of southern California. "I have heard so much about Rotorua," he went on, "that I am very anxious to see it." One thing that Dr. Johnson cannot quite get the grip of is the correct pronunciation of Maori words. "When you try to say them as they are spelt," be said with a smile, "you get all mixed up. 1 suppose it. takes time to get used to them. The names aro very musical though and have a nice sound."