MILITARISM AND WAR TAXES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2549, 25 August 1915, Page 5

MILITARISM AND WAR TAXES

An eminent economist writes to "The Economist" (London) as follows:—l am inclined to ttiink that all this 'organisation of the nation' is going to be the undoing of militarism. Militarism was ; all verv well .when, it meant a bit of drill about the age of twenty, and an occasional turn out for a short time for some years after for considerably less than half the persons born, and half a dozen towns devoted to making guns and swords. But Europe will scarcely tolerate being asked to set half' its women to making shells, and neafly all its chemists to discovering. poisonous gases, aud its electricians finding out methods for detecting submarines, and so on. It might have been brought to it gradually, but this is too sudden, and on. the conclusion of the war-it will ask for real peace. It may be inarticulate. but-finance will speak for it, and to' Governments the question will be, 'How can we pay interest 011 our debts, our pensions, and prepare adequately for the next warp." And tho answer will bo "Nohow." Even if they choose to . try repudiation and preparation it won't make much difference, for preparation will break down just the same. The general absence of war taxes will make it all the moro difficult for the Governments. If they had all doubled their taxes they could take off a quarter perhaps at the end of the war. As it is. tJie conclusion of peace will mean additional taxes. Tho problem on the Continent will be much more difficult than in England owing to tho fact that' tho conscriptionist nations on the Continent have been compelled to abandon a largo part of their Customs revenue, more especially their Protectionist duties on food. Tho United Kingdom is the only belligerent Power which has been able to show an increased revenue since the commencement of the war. •