The Waipikurau Press. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. TUESDAY, MAY 17, 1932. A TAX INEQUALITY

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 121, 17 May 1932, Page 4

The Waipikurau Press. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. TUESDAY, MAY 17, 1932. A TAX INEQUALITY

A marked anomaly in the operation of the new unemployment tax has been disclosed, states an exchange. It has been decided that if a business of any kind has its yearly balance later than April 30, 1932, the Is in the pound tax payable this month will be levied on the income for 1930-31, instead of on that for 1931-32. If tax at the old rate of 3d in the pound has been paid on the whole 1930-31 income, credit will be given for one-third of the total amount paid. Such business, presumably, will continue to be assessed on earlier periods than others which balance by April 30 yearly, so long as the present unemployment tax remains in force. The many persons whose incomes were lower in 1931-32 than in 1930-31, will be considerably penalised in having the quadrupled tax applied to them, in effect, several months earlier than to others balance before May 1 each year. UNEMPLOYED BOYS Since the activities of canvassing by means of personal visits and circulars have been carried out, the number of boys looking for work appears to have increased, and it is more necessary than ever that if youths are to be kept off the streets employment should be found forthem,” stated Mr. H. P. Donald, organsier of the Boys’ Unemployment Committee of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Donald said that twenty boys had been placed in permanent positions, and many applications for work were at present being dealt with. The number of positions available, however, did not in any way meet the demand, and it would be necessary foi' a great many more boys to be placed if any impression were to be made on the total seeking employment. Unless more headway could be made the position at the end of the year, when approximately another 600 boys would be looking for Work, would be particularly bad. Farmers’ unions had been waited on and the position of youths placed before them in the hope that farmers would endeavour to make openings for lads. FREE PLACE SYSTEM Pointing out the seriousness of some of the education cuts, the annual report of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Association regrets the danger to “the whole free place system.” Reduction of this system “puts a premium on examination smartness.” It “aids private schools at the expense of departmental schools.” It increases the unemployment of both youths and teachers, and “doubles the effect of raising the school age to six years.” While the association is prepared to bear its equitable share of burdens, it feels that the Economy Commission did not sufficiently value the mental,

moral and spiritual, and was too much influenced by the desire to provide education as a commodity at the cheapest rate. A nation that restricts education at the expense of general intelligence and social security risks the ultimate loss of many millions owing to its effort to save some. A similar note is found in the annual report of the New Zealand SeVndary Schools Assistants’ Association The Economy Commission, the association thinks, has failed to see “the more intangible benefits” of “a liberal and free postprimary education.” Educational loss in youth is irreparable. The proposed economy td teachers less salary, bigger classes’, blocked promotion, and increased -unemployment. The impression-has been formed that the “lack of funds made it impossible for the Government* to give our case the sympathetic treatment and consideration th4t it deserved.”