THE WAR BILL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12063, 18 July 1917, Page 4

THE WAR BILL.

WEALTH SHOULD NOT ESCAPE SACRIFICES. MR CRAIGIE'S PROPOSALS. [From OtR Correspondent.] WELLINGTON. July 17. A feature of Air Craigie's speech on the Addross-in-Roply wa.s his carefully prepared scheme for a new form of the old property tax. so that wealth should not escape sacrifices during the war. He. suggested that New Zealand, in its Imperial policy, had adopted a selfish policy, but after tho war we would have to bear a, greater share of the cost of Empire defence. To-day's overshadowing duty Avas to win tho war. He strongly advocated a, drastic graduated land tax to burst up largo, estates for soldiers' settlements. He suggested that, if the Government roifusod to grant the people's demand for the sixo'clock closing of hotels another set of men would be put, on the. Government benches. The married men of South Canterbury did not- wish to shirk their duty to maintain reinforcements so long as their wives and families were not neglected. The bill for pensions, interest and sinking fund of the, war expenditure probably would amount to three millions annually. To meet the heavy obligations to soldiers' dependents the, Government should make a, levy upon tho value of propert.v, vaulting from 1 per cent at j;2000 to .toOOO value, up to 20 per cent of a property worth £100,000.* He estimated that this levy would produce thirty millions, which could be set, aside for Avar obligations, for he would not trust the Government to take unrestricted possession of it.