POLITICAL NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1915, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

PROFITS AND TAXATION. ECONOMY AND EXPENSIVE FROCKS. (By Telegraph—Special to Daily News.) The Prime Minister mentioned in the House to-day that a man having an annual income of £2OOO would pay £125 income-tax under the present scale, and £166 13a 4d under the new scale. The graduated land tax payablo by a man having £20,000 worth of land was rising from £3O Is 3d to £SB Us 10(1, and a man 'having land with an unimproved value of £50,000 would ]>ay £515 2s 7d in graduated tax, instead of £343 8a sd, "I don't think that many of these people i will object to paying tlie extra charges," ; said Mr. Masscy. "It is a fact that very few of the farmers will be required to pay income tax at all, owing to the liberal exemptions. Some few farmers have made big profits lately, and they will be Toachcd by the tax. I do mot think there arc many people Who have made fortunes, but if there are aome, thou the tax will reach thcin." COSTLY COSTUMES. | "Tie spirit of self-sacrifice is not yet abroad in the Dominion," said the member for Wairaiapa (Mr. Hornsby) last night. "Look at the windows of the fashionable drapery shops! Axe our ! women going witfio-ufc any of their expensive hata or frocks? Compare their attitude with the conduct of the women, of France, who arc sacrificing everything for the nation." Several members warned Mr. Hornsby audibly that representatives of the ladies were in the galleTdes, but he did not appear to be perturbed. He said that "pleasure-loving New Zealand ought to be following the example of Prance, where fashions and luxuries had been laid aside for the war period, THE FARMERS' VIEW. The members of the House have received copies of a circular letter issued by the Farmers' Union with regard to the new taxation. "As the increases in the railway charges appear to be justified on sound business lines," ran the letter, "we have no objection to the proposals, provided that the charges on manures, agricultural lime ) agricultural machinery, kerosene, benzine, and fencing materials are left as at present, as these articles all aid to increased pro? duction." This circular was quoted in the discussion as an illustration of what a member called "one-sided patriotism."