WEARISOME REITERATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 February 1933, Page 4

WEARISOME REITERATION.

If the criticism of the Labour leader, Mr. H. E. Holland, represents the full statement of the Opposition’s position there seems little reason to prolong the discussion upon the Sales Tax Bill. Mr. Holland’s complaint that the Bill added burdens to the community, even to the portions of the community, least able to bear any additional load, was probably correct. It is a factor in any scheme of taxation which nd one in his senses can ignore.- But Mr. Holland skimmed past the difficulty which the Prime Minister put bluntly. It is that there is a budget deficiency which must as far as possible be made good. To condemn the Government’s proposals is easy. What is not so easy is the indication of a way in which a more suitable means of collecting taxes could be found. Mr. Holland and his followers pin their faith to a further increase in the income-tax. If Mr. Holland would pause from the studies of ancient Egypt and mediaeval Europe, with the fruits of which he regaled the House of Representatives oh Tuesday, and study the result of the super income-tax in Great Britain he might be surprised at the effect it has had upon the wage-earning classes in the United Kingdom. Social workers have found the crippling imposts upon incomes -have lessened expenditure and benevolence on every hand. Business organisations have 'found their opportunities for expansion, for the recasting of obsolete plants, and for any other means of meeting oversea competition have been materially curtailed by the enormous taxes necessary to preserve the good name of Great Britain. If Mr. Holland imagines these results do not have their effect upon the wage-earners and professional classes his study of modem social history needs refreshing. Industry in New’Zealand is-already overburdened with taxes, State and local, and unemployment is one of the indications of this. The need for further taxation is very regrettable, but unless some practicable alternative to the Government’s proposals can be shown further Parliamentary discussion on merely party lines is but beating the air.