THE NEED FOR PRECISE STATEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20481, 28 July 1936, Page 6

THE NEED FOR PRECISE STATEMENTS.

Almost every pronouncement of the Government' in relation to policy serves to remind the people of New Zealand in general, and taxpayers in particular, that marked changes are in early prospect in relation to the basis of national finance. The Prime Minister has now declared, that the Finance Minister is working at high pressure in the preparation of Labour’s first budget. So far, however, no indication has been given by members of the Government as to the direction in which the change in the incidence of taxation will take, save only that the Government is determined to remove as much weight as possible from the shoulders of the people now being carried in the form of indirect taxation and will introduce a change in the incidence of direct taxation. “In this year’s Budget,” the Prune Minister says, “the first steps will be taken in effecting a change from indirect to direct taxation. As I have said previously, indirect taxation may be necessary for certain purposes, but it has been allowed to go too far. In 1922 the average rate of income tax was 3/5, but seven years later it had dropped to 2/1. However, indirect taxation during the same period rose enormously, and people who had not known what they were paying under the system of direct taxation were left guessing. We have got to start to put things right. Indirect taxation usually hits he man who can least afford it, and spreading the tax generally means that it is spread on people with large families and small Incomes. All that has to be altered, but it cannot be completely changed in one Budget. Our ultimate objective is to substitute direct for indirect taxation to as great an extent and as rapidly as possible. We will make a start this year.” It is perfectly obvious that marked changes are to be made in the system of taxation, hence the urgency associated with the preparation of the Budget and the desirableness of the Government announcing its taxation policy without delay. Already there is deepening concern in rural districts, not only because of the delay in announcing the guaranteed price for dairy products, but because of the uncertainty surrounding the Government’s policy in relation to’the conditions of labour on farms and probable rate of pay. The decision of the Government, too, to take authority to change by Order-in-Council the scope of the industrial legislation, has created an unfavourable impression because of the growing feeling that the rush tactics enforced upon the House of Representatives during the passage of the most revolutionary labour legislation ever placed on the Statutebook, are now regarded as indicating lack of mature consideration and realisation of the effect of the legislation. It is therefore of the utmost importance that the Government should clear up uncertainty by the issue of plain statements of policy on important industrial and economic questions.

Exemption From Widening The Timaru Borough Council, at last night's meeting, decided to ask that the Wai-ltl Road end of Avenue Road be exempted, under the provisions of the Public Works Act, from further widening. Municipal Library The estimated average attendance in the newsroom at the Municipal Library last month was 6720 persons. Book Issues for the month totalled 18,610 volumes, an increase of 10 over the corresponding month of last year. The Working Week The Arbitration Court yesterday made an order granting a 40-hour week to motor mechanics and garage attendants, also tramway workers at Christchurch, New Plymouth, Invercargill and Wanganui, the last four applications not being contested. Decision was reserved in the case of the saddlery trade. Incident At Home Gratification that no harm had come to King Edward as a result of the recent incident at Hyde Park Corner was expressed at last night’s meeting of the Timaru Borough Council by the Mayor (Mr P. C. Vinnell), who said that the citizens of Timaru and the Dominion were delighted that nothing serious had happened. Winter Show Traffic Control Congratulations to the Borough Traffis Inspector (Mr C. H. Newcome) on the excellent arrangements made for traffic control at the recent Winter Show were offered at last night’s meeting of the Timaru Borough Council by Cr. W. G. Tweedy. The remarks were endorsed by the Mayor (Mr P. C. Vinnell) who considered that when a man did a good job he should be told about it. Auckland Transport Board On the recommendation of Its assessors, the Auckland Transport Board yesterday adopted the 40-hour wedk for all its employees, and a new agreement is to be drawn up for the period from September 6 till March 3, 1937. The extra cost to the Board would be £20,464. The assessors recommended that in order to meet portion of the additional costs, the price of workers’ weekly tickets be increased from 3/3 to 3/6. Unemployed Boys’ Club In the course of a discussion with a representative of “The Timaru Herald” yesterday, the secretary of the Y.M.C.A. (Mr H. J. Harris) said that there were upwards of 60 unemployed youths in Tlmaru, and the Association was willing to form a club to help them. A club room could be set up, the youths would have access to the gymnasium, and efforts would be made to organise games, addresses and so on. The success of the proposal would depend on the support and enthusiasm shown by the youths themselves, and he hoped that those concerned would approach him on the matter. Purchase of Library Books “Could not we get these books locally?” asked Cr. M. H. Richards at last night’s meeting of the Timaru Borough Council, in commenting on the fact that certain books for the library had been purchased from outside the town. The chairman of the Library Committee (Cr. W. G. Tweedy) explained that very considerable purchases were made locally, and the books in question had been secured as a result of a visit by the librarian to a sale in another part. It was not possible to secure everything locally, but it was the policy of the committee to purchase more in Timaru than had been the case previously. ‘Tride of the ’Nineties” It is a well-known fact that the average auctioneer’s mart harbours the strangest of relics, but the majority of oddities which pass under the hammer are articles which have some use according to the requirements of the modern generation. The presence of a four-wheeled buggy, aptly termed by the auctioneer “The pride of the ’nineties,” at a Hastings auction mart was the object of many curious eyes, and although when in its prime the vehicle was priced at £95, it was knocked down to a purchaser in the mart for the modest sum of £2. A set of harness, with its embellishments dimmed by some 40 years of service, and originally priced at 12 guineas, found an eager purchaser at 25/-. Sensible Action By Children Describing it as a sensible action, the borough electrical engineer informed the Timaru Borough Council at its meeting last night that a report was received from two children to the effect that It was possible to obtain shocks from one of the department’s poles in Wai-iti Road near Park Lane. An investigation was immediately made and it was found that the high tension jumper at the top of the pole had been brought underneath instead of over the top of the cross-arm and this fouled the galvanised iron stay supporting the cross-arm, the current being carried to the ground through the sapwood of the pole. In his opinion the report possibly saved the Council considerable expense and he therefore rewarded the two children with 1/- each for their sensible action. Cr. A. G. Foster asked if the Council thought that the children had been given a fitting reward. Cr. J. R. Hart explained that the engineer had done it “off his own bat,” and no action was taken by the committee. In a matter of such importance, said Cr. Foster, it appeared to him that a larger reward might have been given.