WAR PROBLEMS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3001, 12 February 1917, Page 6

WAR PROBLEMS

carnivll method of raising mone

MR J. CRAIGIE'S VIEWS

; Timaru, February 9. In the course- of an interview to-day Mr. James Craigie, M.1 , ., strongly con- ! destined the carnival method of raising war funds, and urged that the Gov- , ernment should place a direct tax on ( capital in order to preyiie adequately ( for such needs as those of returned soldiers and to compel those who wore | not giving voluntarily to bear their full share of the burden." ' "The private wealth of the Dominion," he said, ' is estimated, according to the Year Book, at £285,000,000. Suppose the State put a tax of 5 per cent, on this wealth, making the amount payable in three, or even five, years. This would be fair for everybody and fair to the country, becauso every man would be contributing according to his ability. If we can re- ' gai-d £250,000,000 as the amount of private wealth that would be taxable, 5 per cent, would produce the very sat- . isfactory sum of twelve and a half,millions. .With this at call the Government could contribute tn such funds as the Red Cross and the Patriotic Funds, especially the latter, which are required to help returned men and soldiers' dependants. .. "It will be a big thing to provide for all the men who come back. Wo have to find farms for some'of them, to put others into businesses, ami unfortunately, to maintain others who have suffered grievous hardships amid the terrors of. the modern battlefield. We ought also to bo willing to provide more generously for the widows and orphans. Are we to say that N«w Zealand can onlv give these people, who have made the greatest .sacrifices, a mere pittance to live on? No. Wo. must do far better than that, and if we can raise twelve and a half millions 1 by a plain tax of 5 per cent, on our private wealth wo are in a position to do our'duty by the men and women and children who have faced dangers and trials and hardships in order to keep the' British flag flying proudly over our heads, and so to secure the great private wealth of this rich country from molestation and robbery. . i "I can see no fairer way of meeting our obligations: than by a direct tax on capital. With the nation at war, every citizen should contribute according to his wealth. Buf, I would not tax the man who has already given his hundreds or his thousands to the/great cause. After computing the tax. I would allow everyone who has given voluntarily to deduct the amount ho, has given from the sum he is called •upon to pay. Thus the generous man would not be penalised, for'his generosity, but the niggardly man would be brought into Hue and compelled to pay his.fn,ir contribution. "There are nianr matters of detail to hi worked out in connection with vamincr a, man's capital, the method of collecting th«. tax. the machinery required for the exemption of the generous giver—all these points must lie settled. But innchinery , be built without much difficulty. Tlio first and the greatest thing to do is to adopt the. principle of an equitable levy upon those who have the means to meet it, and I say plainly that this country cannot do its duty to the Allies' cause and to-its own people until that principle is adopted and put into practice."