LABOUR AND THE WAR.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13598, 7 October 1914, Page 5

LABOUR AND THE WAR.

WHO SHOULD PAY THE COST?

(Special to "The Colonist.") Wellington, Oct. 6. Discussing a published report that' two sections of the Labour Party have come together to arrange for avoidance of clashing during the general; election and tq agree upon land taxation or an export tax on produce to meet war expenses, the member for Wanffamri (Mr ~ Veitch) ridiculed the^ idea of an export tax. "It is not sound political economy," he said, "to imoose a tax on exports; but a tax on land would not be a tax on exports. The price of our produce is fixed by the condition of the world's markets. No hvA\ taxation would affect it, but. its result would be to reduce land values. lam not prepared to say that the whole burden should be laid on the land, but, in view of the fact that land values in New Zealand are increasing at the rate of thirteen millions yearly, it is evident that land is not bearing its fair share of taxation. I would be inclined to say that if there is to be a war-tax it should be upon land and incomes."