A TAXATION CONTRAST.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160726, 12 August 1920, Page 4

A TAXATION CONTRAST.

The Government’s tender regard for the workers of this country is strikingly shown hy some of its taxation proposals. Additional taxation is being levied, and the addition furnishes at least one striking contrast. Laud and income tax, which is paid by the well-to-do, is to provide another ,£20,000; Customs duties, by far the greater proportion of which is paid by the workers, is to provide a cool million extra, making the total Customs levy millions. The Government and its supporters argue that the workers are not the only people who pay for Customs duty, and this is a fact. But they ignore another fact, which is that the workers and other “small” people, being by far the most numerous class, pay Customs duties, as compared with other classes, in the proportion of at least five or six to one. This mepns, in respect of the proposed increased taxation, that they will have to provide about £850,000 of the additional Customs duties required. The well-to-do will provide the other £150,000, plus the £20,000 extra land and income tax. That , means that those best able to bear the

burden will get off with some .£170,000, while the “bottom dog’’ will have to find-about five times as much. Truly, a significant index of the Massey Government’s sympathies! The “small” folk need not feel glum about it, however. We are assured by that typical Tory, the egregious member for Kaiapoi, that we are “nearly all., on the same plane,” and that, practically speaking, we are all equally taxed. How <£170,000 can be proved equal to .£850,000 is, however, an arithmetical problem, which is beyond us to solve.