TAXATION POLICY OF GOVERNMENT

Southland Times, Issue 23332, 16 October 1937, Page 8

TAXATION POLICY OF GOVERNMENT

BREAKING OF PROMISES DENIED (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, October 15. “We deny that Labour has broken its • promises,” said Mr D. W. Coleman (Lab., Gisborne) during the Budget debate in the House of Representatives today. A lot had been said about increases in taxation, Mr Coleman said, but there had been no increase in the rate of taxation. The amount collected was certainly greater, but that was an indication of the greater prosperity of the country. The increased yield from the sales tax showed that there were more sales. “The Labour Government has promised that the sales tax will come off,” Mr Coleman added, “and the Labour Party will keep its promises.” The Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. Adam Hamilton) and the member for Patea (Mr H. G. Dickie) had visited his electorate some time ago, Mr Coleman said, and he extended to them a very cordial invitation to pay a return visit. The speeches they had delivered showed how empty was the policy of

the present Opposition. Mr Hamilton’s meeting had been held in the city hall, but the Labour Party had to take the Opera House which held about three times the number of people. Over and above that the city hall was not even full.