ARE WE DOING OUR PART?

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14149, 11 April 1916, Page 6

ARE WE DOING OUR PART?

DISCUSSION AT-THfc CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. At the annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce last night an interestiivj; discussion took place on the question as to whether Xew Zealand was bearing her fair share of tho financial burden of tho great war. . • V.v. W. W. Snodgrass moved and Mr K. G. Oibbs seconded, that the opinion of the Chamber he conveyed to the Government that there should be a more self reliant policy on the part of New Zealand in connection with financing the war. '-.••. ; Mr. Cock opposed the motion as the policy of the Government could not be disclosed on account of Imperial considerations and therefore could not be criticised. The president (Mr. C. R. Fell) contended that New Zealand was making great proftfc out of the war and the ti'^Htion was infinitesimal con:pa.rod witii that of the Old Country, nnd.it T^s only fair that war profits should be taxed to a reasonable extent. Mr. Hampson considered the .motion too vaeuo. but agreed that a certain section of the community was getting a tremendous'return-solely on account of the war. Mr. F. G. G-ibbs spiritedly defended !he motion, pointing out that in men we v.ere making a great sacrifice J)iit in money it was otherwise. He thought it Mas only a reasonable thing to tell the Government that the country should ■^ake a greater financial sacrifice. The mover pointed out that New Zealand perhaps of all tho Empire wan receiving the greatest pecuniary benefits from the war and it was qwite evident that she was not contributing-by taxation what she should. ■ The motion was lost, three-fourths of those present being opposed to it.