THE TAXATION BURDEN

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 151, 15 March 1918, Page 7

THE TAXATION BURDEN

BUSINESS MEN'S VIEW

■FURTHER REPRESENTATIONS TO FINANCE MINISTER

. Recently tho secretary of tha Association of Chambers of Commerce forwarded to tho Minister of Finance cor'tain r6Bolutions which were passed i> t the last conference of Chambers of ! Commerce on tho matter of taxation 1 end contributions to war loans. Sir .'Joseph Ward, in the course of a reply '-already published, stated that he was willing to consider representations on these anatters that might como from the association,

In a further letter to tho Minister of Finance, the secretary of the association (Mr. H. D. Vickery) states:— "I am directed- by the president i(Mr. •James Macintosh) to state that lie '.notes with interest that you are willing to consider representations on these i matters which may come from the association. In proposing that a (committee i of business men should bo associated with officers of the Land and Income Tax Department for the jmrpose of making investigation it wns :nevcr thought that this committee should have access to any records of the Department which would in any ,way result in divulging information that it is necessary should be kept secret. What, however, is realised is ithat the Department is the only source which cart furnish such statistical data •as' would enable an estimate to be made ■of the possible oftect on revenue if an altored system of income tax was introduced. For example, the Department can supply information such as is •included in "tho 'New Zealand Year ."800k, , / 1915, page 823 efc seq. "As registered "companies, us a class >of taxpayers, have the largest assessable income, it is essential to know what would bo the effect, on the resultant return of tax if some modification were made in the present system of taxing the incomes of companies. Furthermore, tho business community realises that the officials of the Taxation "Department are experts in .-taxation matters. It is-thought that a-'obm-Tnitteo of invesl igation constituted/as suggested would give tho best results. Tlw'.Departmental 'iffieers could-supply necessary data, .without in any wiiy divulging matter which should not be •disclosed, aiul. their.expert knowledge .and .experience, together with tho assistance of. two of _' three' commercial jhen, should result in proposals which aro likely to provide the necessary revenue, and to be acceptable to taxpay-

"I am directed respectfully to urge that it is believed that nothing but good could result JVoni the labours of such- a committee of inquiry.. With -reference to 'the concluding'-portion or your letter, I nm replying to this byseparate letter." ; '• ■ -\