WORK, NOT DOLE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 151, 29 June 1932, Page 7

WORK, NOT DOLE

AUSTRALIAN WAGE TAX. BUSINESSMEN’S PROPOSAL. SYDNEY, June 28. A scheme for the imposition of * uniform wage tax throughout the Commonwealth to provide work in place of the dole was submitted to the Federal Minister of Works (Mr. Mair) by an influential section of Sydney business men. The Minister has forwarded the proposal to the Frimu Minister (Mr. Lyons) for consideration. Mr. Mair stated that he was in favour of a uniform basic wage throughout the Commonwealth and a uniform working week. This was the policy of his Government. The scheme for a uniform wages tax provided that there be a tax of a shilling in the pound on salaries and incomes up to £3OO a year. There would be a halfpenny increase for every £5O over that amount, with amaximum of 2s. The tax would bring in about £20,000,000 a year. The Telegraph, in an editorial, states: “Can Australia afford to give to her seven Governments more than half of her total income. This is tho main question- with which the Pre miers’ Conference, mooting at Can berra to-day, has to deal.’’ The Telegraph then published figures to show that the Governments took 10s 3d in the £1 of our income in 1931, and concludes: “So far the taxpayers have seen their incomes shrink and shrink while taxation increases. No wonder there has been unemploy ment. ”