WAR TAXATION.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2404, 9 March 1915, Page 9

WAR TAXATION.

Sir,—l think the time has arrived when it is no longer advisable that tho relief of the poor in Belgium should be carried on by voluntary contributions, as by so doing, the same who have already generously subscribed, would probably be the only ones who . would subscribe again, and those who are equally able to contribute and have been too mean to do so, w'ill again hide themselves, behind their generous fellow, colonists and do nothing. The relief of the Belgium poor is not a charity; it is a debt incurred by the whole Empire, as had not plucky little Belgium stepped in when the war broke out and refused to allow the arrogant German to violate her neutrality without protest, and upheld her hon°ur to the extent even of her own annihilation, the present state of things would be far different, and most probably of a very disastrous nature. That °® m g so, then . I say it is the duty of the British Empire to make the peoples £ft ° lmu her care, as it should also be the care_ of all civilised nations. This Dominion, therefore, should take up its share of the burden "as an integral part of the Empire" and joyfully come to the assistance of the country to which we owe so much. I am sure every decent man in this Dominion will' acknowledge its indebtedness. What then is the . best way to attain cur object? I say emphatically it is a debt owing by the whole Dominion, and as such, should be paid by the whole Dominion. The Government of the country should pay the country's quota out of the consolidated funds, and a tax tor the purpose should be levied which would bear equitably on all portions of the community and not leave it to the keop 011 P, a y in S for the benent of tne mean and stingy, when they are equally able to do so. I should suggest that for the purpose of this tax as well as for any war tax that may be eventually levied that all incomes, whether from labour or anything else, should be taxed, and of course property. The farm labourer at 30s' a week and found in, everything, and l,;° Jo ar £ ,aio " rer and artisan at Ihlo +° r OI J 4 S week is ]ust as able to pay as the farmer, tho manufacturer, shop-keeper, tradesman, or salaried man and clerk. They all have a stake in the welfare of the country: then why should not all be obliged to earned? m Proportion to tho money

others with more able pans than mm© will take this matter iro I am, etc., F '

r>i v ■ ~H- D - VAVASOUR. Blenheim, March 2. [Smco' : Mr.' Vavasour wrote his let. ter advice has been received from the Impenal authorities, as announced, which makes a Government contribution to the Belgian Relief Fund impracticable.—Ed