LAND AND INCOME TAX.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 20, 17 August 1917, Page 7

LAND AND INCOME TAX.

THE FARMERS’ POSITION. In the course of the very important statement made by Sir Joseph Ward in the House on Wednesday afternoon regarding the Land and Income Tax, the Minister said, inter alia, that he wished to express the opinion that the small farmers in the country were just as anxious as the ‘large farmers to do their part. (Hear, hear.) And, even if they were not anxious to do so, it was incumbent upon them to do their part; and members should explain to them the need for it. (Hear, hear.) In case nine in Idle land and income tax table—unimproved value £3085 (mortgages £2600); income, with excess profits, £7Bl—it would he seen that taxes last year were £92, whereas this year they would be £46, a decrease of £46. In ease ten, too—unimproved value, £2500 (mortgages, £800); income, with excess profits, £lo39—the taxes last year totalled £134, but this year they would be £79, a reduction of £55. Ho wanted to say this and this only, and he said it advisedly, that it was no use asking how much ran acre that was on 50 or 100 acres of land in expectation that they could abolish it; [and if any member wanted to exempt these men or make their taxation of no use in swelling the total amount of taxation, then let them make up their minds that the income tax had to be fixed at a higher rate than in England or anywhere else. They would have to make up their minds also, that they were going to cripple part of the revenue necessary to carry on the country after the war. (Hear, hear.) Mr W. Nos worthy (Ashburton) : “The difficulty is that the big people did not pay as much last yjear as they should have done.” (Hear, hear.) Sir Joseph Ward: “The fact is that some of them are being called upon this year to pay five or six times as much as last year. But it is necessary ; and I think that it is generally recognised throughout the country that it is unavoidable.” (Hear, hear.)