THE DOUBLE INCOME-TAX

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 220, 11 June 1919, Page 8

THE DOUBLE INCOME-TAX

STRONG PROTEST IN LONDON. The general meeting of .the Association to Protest Against the Duplication' of I'ncome-Tax Within the Empire was held in London recently. Sir F. W. Young, M.P. (chairman), presided, and was supported by Sir Charles C. JfLeod .(deputychairman). Henry Bull, Esq. .(hoii.; treasurer), Hon. J. G. Jenkins (secretary), James-Martin,- Esq., J.P. (chairman of tho London Chamber- of Commerce). Sir Newton J. Moore. K.C.M.G., M.P., Hon. Edward Lucas (Agent-General for South Australia), and Sir Harry Wilson. The chairman said Ihe report covered u period of fourteen months, in which they had dono quite a considerable amount of useful woTk, bearing immediate fruit, and tending favourably to the successful future results of their, efforts. A' sub-committee had waited upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer with a deputation, the • immediate result of winch deputation had been that in the Finance Bill of last year the maximum remission for the overseas \6r double income-taxpayers was raised from Is. Gd. to 2s. 6d., leaving 3s. fid. payable. During' the period the justice of their position had been reaffirmed by the Imperial Conference sitting in July. An important point .was that when tho finance Bill was being discussed the Chancellor of the Exchequer made the striking statement that tho evil of double ■income-tax ought, not to exist for an hour after the end of the war. That hour had'struck, and they had arrived at the period when it should cease. The Government should without delay consult the representatives of tho Dominions, and come lo terms. Instead, of that they had appointed a Royal Commission, which would simply mean dedelay. He urged that the Commission should pay immediate attention to the question of.double income tax. They would prove to the Commission that-the amount of the tax was grotesque in many eases. The report wa,s adopted.. ;: Mr. P. D. Leako moved that "this meeting draws the attention of tho Government to (1) the fact the Prime Ministers and other representatives of the Dominions are at present in this country, and can be immediately consulted; (2) the statement of tho Right Hon. A. Bonar Law, the late Chancellor w the Exchequer, 'that- the double income-tax system ought not to confinr*.' an hour longer than the end of the war',-and rei solves, that it is urgently desirable on Imperial and trading grounds, and in the best interests of the revenue of the Mother Country, that the Royal-Com-mission on Income Taxation be requested to consider .and make a recommendation on the subject of double income taxation within the Empire without delay by way of en interim _ report, and that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer, the late Chancellor of the Exchequer, tho Secretary of State for the Colonies, the Dominions Prime Ministers, and- members of the Royal Commission."

Mr. J. B. Brailhwaite seconded the resolution, and it was carried unanimously.