LIVING FREE OF TAX

Southland Times, Issue 23024, 19 October 1936, Page 8

LIVING FREE OF TAX

HOW TO ATTRACT COLONISTS RHODESIA GIVEN AS EXAMPLE An unusually high income tax exemption as a means of attracting a desired class of residents is one of the factors which have made Southern Rhodesia one of the Empire’s most prosperous young colonies. This opinion was given to The Southland Times on Saturday by Mr Arthur Sanders, of Bulawayo, who was a delegate at the Congress of the Federated Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire. Such a high income tax abatement

had had the effect of attracting to Rhodesia former Army and Navy men on pensions. They were also encouraged to stay in the country by a further tax rebate of £75 for each child and a further allowance of £lOO for insurance premiums. Such men were a very desirable type of colonist, and Southern Rhodesia was glad to get them, he said. A married man on a pension of £lOOO a yeaimight thus live tax free in Rhodesia. The white population in Southern Rhodesia was only about 55,000, with a native population of something like 11,500,000. Since 1923, the colony had been self-governing and politics ran very smoothly. There was a House of 30 seats, with a party, an amalgamation of the Reform and the old Rhodesian parties, strongly entrenched in power. The Labour Party, with some fine seats, was in opposition. Small Gold Mines.

The high price of gold was responsible for very many mining ventures. There were in Southern Rhodesia some 500 or 600 “small mines” worked by owners, or small syndicates of owners, using native labour. Other industries—-cattle-raising, maize-growing and tobacco farming—were in a prosperous state. Rhodesian tobacco was gaining in favour everywhere, and from inquiries he had made on his present trip, it was doing well in New Zealand. One main factor in the success of Rhodesian tobacco was the climate, which closely approximated that of Virginia—giving Rhodesian tobacco a better flavour than could be achieved anywhere else in the

Empire. I The country had a big tourist trade 1 with the Victoria Falls—among the ■ world’s scenic wonders—as the principal attraction. There had also been re- ■ cently opened a big game reserve and annually the colony attracted many overseas sportsmen. ! The climate of Rhodesia was the magnet that was drawing it the colonists it was receiving of recent years, Mr Sanders said. The town of Bula- ' wayo was 4400 feet above sea level, and the climate generally was both mild and healthy. The colony was only 50 years old and would celebrate the fiftieth jubilee of its occupancy by white residents at the same time as New Zealand celebrated its centenary. The colony had an exceptionally good air mail service—leaving twice a week for London, and arriving at the same intervals. The present charge for air mail letters was 6d, but it was hoped by next year to have it down to lid. The service was run by Imperial Airways. Bulawayo was now seven or eight days from London, but it was hoped to reduce this to about four days in a year or so. Mr Sanders was enthusiastic about the success of the congress, and said that the visit to New Zealand was an experience the tourists would not have missed for anything. People had been most hospitable and the actual congress had evoked some valuable discussions.