SACRIFICE TO SERVE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 180, 1 July 1940, Page 3

SACRIFICE TO SERVE

TAXES AND SALARIES Mr Cyril Ratclifl'e, K.C., eighteen months ago Avas earning Avell over £10,000 a year at the Chancery Bar. Noav he has accepted office as Assistant Director-General of the Press and Censorship Bureau, and it is unlikely that he Avill receive more than a couple of thousand a year for his Avork. At 36 years of age Mr Ratclifl'e was the youngest King's Counsel: he is noAV 41. He Avorks tAventy hours a day, has a keen, calculating mind, a clarity of expression and a reserved manner Avhicli sometimes baffles his friends (says a London correspondent). In voluntarily relinquishing a handsome income for public duty Mr Ratcliff<* is only doing Avhat a .great number of citizens are doing in this time of emergency. Others have been forced by economic cii" l cumstances into a similar position. Their businesses have gone. There is the case of one man AA r ho earned over £5000 a year, but who now is a captain AA'ith £450 a year. His last year's income tax amounted to £1700, together with surtax of £430 and he is Avondering hoAV he is going to meet his obligation. Thousands of big salaries have fallen aAA r ay to nothing. The income tax authorities are usually adopting a benevolent attitude in such cases. Pri\ r ate arrangements are being made AA rheroby taxes are being hekl over until better days or are being paid by instalment; but it is pretty obvious that considerable sums Avhich are owing to the Exchequer will never be paid. The surprising thing is that in the quarter which has just ended—the last of the financial year —money came in Avith abundance and comparati\ r e ease. Even the authorities Avere surprised Avhen the year ended AA'ith a substantial surplus though they expected some thing on the credit side. Tied up with this is employment, and the March figures are distinctly encouraging. They .showed the largest decrease in the number of people out of work from all causes which has ever been achieved in a single month—3B3,ooo. The unemployed figure has iioav fallen to 1,121*213, the loAvest since the peak of prosperity in 1929, and it looks is if it Avill be beloAV the million before very long.