VARIOUS SUBJECTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12081, 9 August 1917, Page 4

VARIOUS SUBJECTS.

MR BUDDO'S BUDGET SUG-

GESTIONS

TAXATION AND SETTLEMENT,

[From Our Correspondknt.]

WELLINGTON, August 8.

A vide range of subjects was covered bv the Hon 1). Hwdrio in. discussthe Budget tonight. He described tho taxation proposals as moderate for this period. Ho approved the abolition of the excess profits tax, which hit main- who ought not to bo penalised Tho land tax was not confiscatory, and il" it wore it would be wrong. The land tax had at last reached tin! point, at which if. would prevent aggr< - gation, such as had gone on during the last few years. Tbe. simplification of taxing forms was desirable, especially something less complicated than 1.32000 d in tho £ -as steps in the. tax Sir Joseph Ward: A\ ould you prefer to call it one farthing in the. £? Mr Buddo -went on to advocate, a. bachelor tax and special motor-car tax, but abolition of the tea tax. Organisation of .settlement- and work lor tho soldiers w;ero urged by the speaker. Without this preliminary, he said, .New Zealand would have returned soldiers walking tho streets without jobs, reproaching those who stayed behind at high wages- "We should not givo them "the rim of tbe street, hut. H>m« patriotic, assistance There shouldjio no question of benevolence or chanty, but every soldier ought to be, immediately put into a position to earn a living I-and values constituted a problem in .soldier settlement. Though produce might drop, values of good land would* be. sustained, the holders hoping for hotter times. There would be no patronage about land settlement. He favoured setting up a committee to settle tho land purchase question. Soldiers should have their holdings tree of rent- for the first few years, and then have a valuation made and be. charged rent .accordingly, with duo regard to the fluctuations of the market. No land had been taken up m North Canterbury, which hid always been a difficult place to get d. Mr Massev: Is thoi3 not some at Oxford? I think tluero is some sheep country there. Mr Buddo went on to cordially approve drastic taxation of wealthy men failing to support war loans, but confessed inability to suggest a good way of doinq this. As a suggestion lor economy, tho speaker recommended the Government to run the 'territorial system by officers now on the reserve, L)iu<= saving the- staffs it, thirteen areas. Sir .lames Allen: AY hat sort of running would that lm worth? Nothing 31 r Buddo: Wo managed very well in'the Volunteer days, Jm, well as we could. (Laughter). AV«*r tho Second Division, tho would now have Ihe obligations of married men to face. Every man allowed to remain should have to work a full dav at a useful job. The Government liad neglected tin- cost ol living till members, tho Press aii'l the, people had raised a. storm. He not. understand why a shilling s?;ts paid lor tho loaf while the ia.nner «#.gily got uvcpence out of it. 1 n TreiKiham a fourpound loaf wn.s produced, at a fraction over sixpvnoe. Ir something wore done regarding bread a.nd meat I lie most important phases -of tlio que.si ion_ would 1)0 settled, Whv should tho Government, refuse Lo run ra.oo trains, w!ie:i tho only result, wis damage to the county road«? One farmer counted -J.")0 motor-cars passing his gate en route to the Asbburton race-.:, and the road next day v.-a;-, in - wor.v condition than ever before.