CORRESPONDENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 20, 24 July 1945, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE

VISITING SERVICEMEN

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —I am surprised that servicemen from other countries who stop at our port for a day or two are not given the freedom of the city, and that a small guide and map is not given by the City Council to these soldiers, sailors, and airmen. When our echelons visited ports in Australia and Cape Town we had free tram and bus rides and even cinema shows. Are the visitors to go away with the impression that we want to grab all. Perhaps the authorities do not know it, but many of these servicemen have little to spend on their leave.—l am, etc.,

V.W.K.

TAXING OVERSEAS FUNDS

Sir, —Undoubtedly the restrictions regarding overseas funds are unjust, but a far greater injustice exists in the taxation imposed on the income derived from such funds. Out of each £1 received from investment in Great Britain the British Government takes 10s. Of the remaining 10s the New Zealand Government insists on a taxpayer declaring this balance as 12s 6d in New Zealand currency, and it not only deducts accordingly Is 7d for social security, but uses every such 12s 6d (terming it non-assessable income) for the purpose of pushing up the rate of tax to a higher level on that portion of income earned or unearned in New Zealand.

12s 6d (terming it non-assessable income) for the purpose of pushing up ' the rate of tax to a higher level on « that portion of income earned or unearned in New Zealand. ' One can' easily see from the fore- i going that on an overseas income of i any appreciable amount the tax extracted from the unfortunate taxpayer is extremely heavy and grossly un- i fair. This rate of taxation applies i even if the income is not received in : New Zealand; it has to be declared, plus the exchange, just the same. I believe that the Chambers of Commerce published their views some time ago on the unfairness of taxing nonassessable income, but I consider there is a greater cause for complaint in the taxation of British income which has : already at its source borne a tax of 10s in the £.—I am, etc., : TAXPAYER.

One can' easily see from the foregoing that on an overseas income of any appreciable amount the tax extracted from the unfortunate taxpayer is extremely heavy and grossly unfair. This rate of taxation applies even if the income is not received in New Zealand; it has to be declared, plus the exchange, just the same. I believe that the Chambers of Commerce published their views some time ago on the unfairness of taxing nonassessable income, but I consider there is a greater cause for complaint in the taxation of British income which has already at its source borne a tax of 10s in the £.—I am, etc.,

TAXPAYER.