TAXATION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 574, 31 July 1909, Page 6

TAXATION.

SPEECH BY DR. FEJDLAI. '. • (By Tolccraph.—Prcsa Association.) 1 . ■ Timaru,July3o. -j The- Hon. Dr. Findlay, 'Attbrtley-Geheral," addressed a largo -meetiug to-'nignt on : the - question' of ' taxation ;•< direct 1 "a4d . indirect, ': and'on "the v broad' principles "Svhioh gdverh-it./v-He•'stated "that; 1 ' 'healing'" in-■'•miiid■'enbaiuiedf value-'of "priVat^.'jwealth,' l ' through' Statd bof- " rowing' for/public ', works,' ;.'it 'was absurd to V treat •the'.'increase' in" taxation 'during 'tHft 1 last ten years simply as an additional bur- / den upon the peoplo 'as. a whole. Aitor'.brief ; .reference to',theFinance..Bill,'' now bofore 'the British/ Commons, Dr. Findlayturned , to an . examination of; taxation, in New Hea.' land! /He detailed ..two kinds,/.direct and: indirect,''and- gave Ifsfr- : ywr'.s'--returns'.' /He re- '. ferred: -to-'the-property tax, -'.and • dwelt'. at kngth v . r pif;'tlic' ,prescnt/.:schemo;of - under the ' Land''awl'lncome Tax .Act. Under ' thtf™ '-'present- -Vi Government «•; three; ••■. •broad rpincipleg., wore. rKOpjijsod;:; (l)vequality • feacrific'^ v (2) ■ protection'in-the sense used by Adam:Sihitn,i and-.(3)'. the, extent to- which>; the property'of "if',taxpayer Intprovcd 1 in'raltie >s by; State,expenditure. ,0.6 calimed.that (1) hud ;■ been followed for seventeen .years, .and' that'■ the wage-earners were' . paying; ' much;' less •■'•; 'taxation," than formerly; .that any/-increase ; ■ in Customs revenue' was due to increased; consumption;•[• .-that, tbsi, -increase -in .revenue from direct (taxation, was due to increased wealthy.' and ;th'at"the, tax. oil -private: wealth •was; largeK'to i»y-" interest' oilmoney' bor-'. / rowed,, which . has added'to/such j'calth-'many ; times tie VcafSt'di" of f'sudh ' He exposed stating-- th'keftaxStM' jfiM, ftcrM6tf l m' ! ten? } •' Id/ '"aiie'a'd/' :Pii'nni?' ! years', : ''greStTfeiluis_sio'ni' HSu; bikm'jmadiij in£ Custonis' i 'd(ltieJ, J 1 and' lio^'Confidently-grated V .thdF theH'aX&tidn "of cent-.' Figures'-'weto' duotod ■td rt ' ! sh6fr/' i that';'"-. 1 'wealth' 'snares tbe' burden,giving the. Aum-;'; ber of those'who 'pay 'taxes.''; Dr. ''Findlay •' • then dealt with,the valuation question from the point of vviejv.-.ofrthe, saleiiprioe; of properties and the yalue on-the roll, quoting a table in-'rolatiin thereto. In the different provincial rdistricts -tho difference in valuation for' rating was-..about. 29 ponoont. lesa than the properties, actually , realised by sab.