The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 25 June 1915, Page 2

The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY.

LEVIN. FHiIDAY, JLLNE 25, 1915. TAXATION. The Chronicle has been looking into the latest Abstract of Statistics issued by the Kegistrar-General, and notes therein that- the taxation of New Zealand continues to increase. It is heavier now than at any previous period in the history of these islands. Undoubtedly there are compensations for the increase, but it remains to be 6aid that need is urgent lor careful consideration of ways and means—the more so as a very substantial further increase iu taxation is immediately imperative, to meet the extra public expenditure on account of the war, and the maintenance of the soldiers that New Zealand has sent, and is still sending to the front. In addition, there is to be faced the unavoidable and great increases in pensions that will come very soon. Already the pension list of the Dominion is a heavy one. For the year ended 31st March Inst, well over half a million pounds sterling were paid out in New Zealand to pensioners—Old Age, Widows and Military. In 1905, the amount was £195,475, and the amount has grown in each succeeding year. For 1904 the total was £473,300. This year there are 19,459 old age pensioners, 1809 widow pensioners, and 1384 military pensioners (exclusive of military pensioners, resident in New Zealand, who draw their pensions from the British exchequer;. Returning bo the subject of taxation, we note that the present taxation by the New Zealand Government is' at present equivalent to £5 10s per head of the popu-lation-—men, women and children. In addition, about £1 15s per head is raised by local bodies' taxes. These.averages are (by far the highest ever known in the history of the Dominion. In 1908, when the Government taxation was £5 0s 4d per head, the highest on record was reached, but for three years subsequent the amounts fell to less than £5 per head. In 1912. the taxation was £5 3s 10d per head, in 1913 £5 7s 2d, and in 1914 £5 10s.