NEW WAGE TAX

Southland Times, Issue 21430, 26 June 1931, Page 7

NEW WAGE TAX

MR LANG’S MEASURE SHOCK FOR SYDNEY CITIZENS GRADUATED SCALE (United Frees Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyrrght.) (Rec. 7.0 p.m.) Sydney, June 25. Citizens of Sydney received a rude shock to-day when confronted by the Sun’s contents bill with the words “Lang’s New Staggering Wage Tax.” Described as an emergency taxation bill, this measure, which is being introduced into the Assembly to-day, provides for new heavy levies on all incomes at the source additional to ordinary income tax. It will replace the present unemployment relief tax and will operate from July 1. The tax ranges from a shilling in the pound on incomes of £4 a week and rises to 2/6 in the pound on incomes of £lO a week, but wages below £4 a week are exempt. The Government expects to derive from this source between £5,000,000 and £6,000,000 a year, and Mr Lang expects in this way to solve the problem of meeting Government expenditure from revenue. ' THE BILL DELAYED OFFICIAL RATES ANNOUNCED. (Rec. 11.50 p.m.) Sydney, June 25. Mr Lang’s tax Bill has been delayed until to-morrow. The official rates are: Persons receiving £4 to £5 weekly will pay 1/- in the pound; from £5 to £6, 2/-; from £6 to £7, 2/6; from £7 to £lO, 3/-; £lO or over, a flat rate of 5/-. The view is expressed that the Legislative Council will throw the measure out and thus cause a crisis and possibly a general election, as Mr Lang has no other means of raising funds. THE SALES TAX AN INCREASE PROPOSED Canberra, June 25. The Treasurer, Mr Theodore, stated that after the present emergency bills had been passed by the House, a Bill to increase the sales tax would be introduced and would probably operate on July 31. FEDERAL CABINET TWO VACANCIES FILLED. (Rec. 7.0 p.m.) Canberra, June 25. Senator J. J. Daly (South Australia), and Mr L. L. Cunningham (New South Wales), were to-day elected by the Federal Labour Party to fill vacancies in the Federal Cabinet caused by the resignations of two assistant Ministers, Messrs Holloway and Culley. FEDERAL SUPPLY BILL PASSED. (Rec. 9.20 p.m.) Canberra, June 25. The Supply Bill to cover Government expenditure to the end of the current financial year passed through the House of Representatives. CONVERSION AGREEMENT BILL. (Rec. 7 p.m.) Canberra, June 25. The division on the Conversion Agreement Bill will probably occur to-night. It is anticipated that the Government will win by a substantial majority and safely reach the recess in August.