“THE DISTANT FUTURE.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2178, 30 April 1908, Page 2

“THE DISTANT FUTURE.”

SUGGESTIVE REMARKS BY THE PREMIER. A QUESTION OF TAXATION. (Special to “Times.”) WELLINGTON, April 29. In the interview with Mr. Massey, published in another column, reference is made to the Premier's remarks on tho question of taxation. The eery meagre and inadequate account of the Premier’s speech sent out by die Press Association makes no reference to this matter. The following account of whuit the Premier did say is taken from tho “Evening Post, which remarks: “Something in the nature of a warning for tho future was given by tho Premier in the concluding portion of Iris financial statement to the Liberal and Labor Federation. ‘There are not many of you, I think,’ lie said, ‘who do iß>t know as well as I do that in times of great prosperity, when thero is a tremendous amount of money coming into die Treasury, tlio Government has to stand as firm as adamant.’ It was at such times, ho added, that the Government had to realise tlio tremendous, responsibilities devolving upon it and to recognise that not only the administration, but all classes of the community, would bo prejudiced if any serious" mistake was made in giving way to tho persistent clamor for increased expenditure that came at ;uch a time. The Government went on tho assumption that the consolidated revenue could be depended upon to pay £BOO,OOO a year to the public works fund, and that that amount could not be paid unless the revenue showed the necessary £200,000 per mouth available for that purpose. With a full sense of responsibility, he declared that the barometer was ‘steady,’ but, for all that, he believed that the Government deserved recognition for a degree of caution for which they had not been generally credited, but the country required development and assistance, and he he believed that it could carry on its public works on the same basis as last year with perfect safety. (Applause.) Tie did not think it was necessary for him to be pessimistic, lie continued.’ ff Now Zealand were in a dangerouscondition, what would bo the duty of the Government of the day? It would be not to give away anything in the shape of remission of taxation, but to strengthen its position by probably increasing taxation. "What had been done during a comparatively brief period of years? They had given back to the people of New Zealand, iq. the shape -of remission of taxation and concessions, a total of £1,550,000, and during the whole of that time there had been an increase of taxation in one direction, tho graduated tax. Were the people who had been built up by such a policy the sort to turn back should the necessity arise of ‘hauling down our canvas and sailing a little closer to the wind ? If the necessity ever arose, and his opinion was that it would not, tho people who had carved out homes for themselves would show the same courage and determination as they had in the past, and if the necessity over arose, and ho hoped it never would, for an increase of taxation, ho ventured to express the opinion that those people who had received such tremendous benefit would not be the people to turn their backs on tho country which, on the whole, had done, so much for them, and which he believed would do so for all them in the future. (Applause.)