TAXING WOOL PROFITS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2669, 15 January 1916, Page 6

TAXING WOOL PROFITS

(To. the Editor.) .Sir,—A large number of the dairy companies in tho Auckland Province are contributing from one farthing to a half-' penny per pound on the butter-fat produced during the season to the Patriotic Funds. Tliis might also apply to other districts. If'the small farmers- can ,do this, surely -the wool-growers to likewise make a special contribution towards, tho War Fund. Many have, done this, but again there are others who have. refused' to help'. There is a certain wool man up north whose income from his station was last year, no less than £3000. This year, on account of the high prices, his income is £4500, sterling. It took the united efforts of a' whole district, backed by several charming Patriotic Queens, before tliey could squeeze » meagre £100 out of this poverty-stricken individual. Ono is almost in- doubt .as which to favour with the greater sympathy—the wounded soldier or the money-grabber, but judging by tho pointed remarks contained in the New Testament, it would appear that tho rich man should reccive our consideration, before the other. Now, during 1913' the amount of wool produced, if taxed at .one penny per pound, would give a return of over £770,000 sterling. If our National Government had put on a penny per pound on all wool which, fetched more than a shilling per pound this season, there would have been something like a million pounds towards paying for the war. It would have been easily collected, and thero would have been no doubt about the amount of wool produced, and thero is no body of men who could ,liav© paid more easily. If tho small farmer can pay the extra cost of living, extra cost of material for the farm, extra taxation,' and also on his . own initiative give from his income a stated sum for the season, the big man could have done so, too. Is it too late for the Government to act in this direction.—T am, etc., A.H.C.