WHO PAYS FOR THE DREAD-' NOUGHT?

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 722, 22 January 1910, Page 3

WHO PAYS FOR THE DREAD-' NOUGHT?

'Sir,—l notice you '.publish .'a r return oi '■■ the .imports .from. Britain : for.'. the'past" :' : eleven months, compiled, from' the Board' ■ of.: Trade;.-"-returns..; These.; amount, :&."'-.' or,/an-average per month;an' ■ 'r round'figures,, of £275,497, so the year's ; '- ; '' return for, the■ purpose, of this'-letter may. - be : taken practicaliyVas'jE3,3os,9'67.'v:.'.. To me, are particularly'interest- ■■'.'.. -Ulg,; as, according,' to, the' Laid: and 'In- I oome Tax Assessment'-Act, 1908, 1.-.under-: > \ stand. that all non-resident-, traders with thei Dominion, or' their -agents 'areliable ; .' : to a minimum s assessment of h per.'cent{"■■ on _tho gross\proo'eeds 'of ■ their'Saies ;br ' business as profit -computed fori and upon W whioh without-, any'deduction: they.must '".••"' pay income'tax'toiho. Dominion'of New--.'--.'-:-'-iiealand.",,Therefore,T presume that this- >'-'■: <£3,305,9G7 worth of'goods supplied by .our': '"-. ownkith and kin; is subject, to taxation -i; to the "minimum extent! of ,£165,24fc . If. ':',i/> my, view, ; is a" correct'onb,'l would ask.'.is 1 '■'• '•/ this reciprocity, or. gratitude for'what the"=.'.; ; ' Mother.. Country,", has. '. done'- in -.the > in-' V''.; ■';" tere'sts of this'•Dominion, and : is it-in-ah- '/- ; ticipation of .this kind'of treatment that.':.': the; parent- land: is : >'now. fighting a .most '•'. determined: general (/election,;.: with' L /the'.. '. view that-. they may introduce'-;' future■'.-. ■''■ legislation.;thatl.will.plaoe.'the 'Domin- ■':■'■ ion's produce upon the .most: favoured ' -'' basis?' ;'"■"';:■' V{] -"::••:■-' £>':■-'>■■!. \ ;- : '"' .-'■' I;cannot, .but^thihk-thatv.the operation " ;>: of this tax" is' iniquitous, unworthy,, and- U ungrateful-.;of .legislators .who'-' were', in- ,'f strumental in /producing' such -a 'Statute; "-■ ■■:'. and who' sho\ild:be .brought to the blush-' i': for. : drawing a-stipend^part':of;which:is '- '"~ raised/from-.such a'tax.-..-This is : prefer-',- • ence, to- the"-Mother'./Land with a- veng'ei ';' ance.;/.For, whilst, the : Britisher/ whbMia'i■'. - : ,' a .local': agent dues' and '-•■'■'.. demands, /."direct'.'and indirect, the' - foreigner-, whose'agent; resides ; ha and;' ; visits; the: Dominion' periodically '"/ for.it/ie: purpose/of business/is-practically./'; : oxempt,.:as .he'S'iiaply.-'.'pays'the'corahier-'i' '■■'= cial; travellers'.'...tax'-:'and /'passes:.on; ; -th» 'pprnin^n,-:-being-ipswerlessr'..tb,reW6rce:'"a'v-''' ; :-''' further-• -tax. .v/upon;- ; -the-'-.non-residentV '"■'■ foreigner., who.'-works.his',business in'thu ■way.. ..-,■-. ;/;; / :... -;-:/;.•■;■'< '■•:'.' :>.■;: .//..../.-.■•;.,- -' : h^ the'DreadhoughtO- '. magnanimity.»is - a .dead:.letter,-and' hence ; " :, a /gift'.ofVthe".GreOk,'«i.e.y. like making ■ ■:-'■ .yourself a ; present;of ! a',box of cigars, so''' : '■'•'•'• to .speak..;- This /taxis-.rankling.in; the;' '- .minds.-.of;;,merchantsi: at ■ Home,->and' r I-V--.' believe the''question of -retaliation' is.:' at r\ the-^^moment.vunderVEerious^'oohsideration '". '/-: by /an 1 : influential ;section;.of .-;the - cb'mmer- '■:' '■: mal cbmiaunity-in/London, -''andi'.'^'tlieir-" '.''} delineations';-: consummatein ; -."mutual■■'. ■courtesies," ,1; :■ wonder >hbw ! Now:': Zea-: : landers',.will.''--appreciate''-, contributing.-;to - : .■'-.' the income/ tax. of /Britain, assessed on -' '/ . the/ gross," vainer l of "the /business '.they;'do '-■". .with -the'-.Mother,'.;Country '. in .wool; : milt-' ■ ■ ; ton;-butter, etc.,',etc;T-I:"amy;etc'.i::'■"->' -V- - ;: . ;-.;:;:'•;.;/■ Lr7EjAND''LETvXIVE. .'-;'■