TAXATION QUESTIONS.

Wairarapa Age, 22 July 1920, Page 5

TAXATION QUESTIONS.

DISCUSSED IN PARLIAMENT

By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. Last Night.

In the House of Representatives to-day, the Excise Tariff Bill was introduced by Mr A. McCallum, and read a first tirrje. The Opposition blamed the Government, during a discussion on the Bill, with not having revised the Customs tariff, with not having increased the death duties, and with not having imposed a heavier land tax. The Right Hon. W. F. Massey contended that the Customs tariff could not be revised without long preparation on the parrot', experts, for which there was not time this session. The country could not do with less revnue than was at present being raised, and if the tax was taken off in one direction, it must be put on in another. He recognised the necessity for a revision of the whole system of taxation, and he would set up a Committee of the House to investigate the -position.

The Hon. C. J. Parr contended that the death and succession duties in New Zealand were far higher than were generally supposed. Under this dual taxation, in some cases, nearly half an estate could be taken.

Mr T. M. Wilford argued that the occasions on which the dual tax came into operation were negligible.