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Hokitika Guardian, 24 September 1919, Page 2

Those optimistic people who have been looking forward to better times for the taxpayer following on the close of the war (says the Dominion), will have to resign themselves to another year at least of the existing high scale of land and income taxes. There is to he no change either in the incidence or the rate of taxation this year, which, under the circumstances was only to be expected. It is obvious that the volume of revenue required from direct taxation is nob likely to be materially lessened ,in the future and such relief as may he expected will come mainly from changes in the incidence of taxation and the development of production on as wide a scale as possible. In the short time at its disposal since it resumed control of the country’s affairs, the present Government, could not, without serious i-isk of embarrassing the finances of the Dominion, attempt any considerable changes in the incidence of taxation such as Would be required to meet the -needs of the situation. It is a safer and a sounder policy to go on as we have been going until there is full opportunity after the elections for whatever Government may he then in office to go thoroughly into the matter. The one thing that was clearly : indicated by the recent discussion in the House of Representatives is that there is practically unanimity as to the necessity for a complete revision of our fiscal system. This will Be one of the iJehief basics of the new Parliament, but the matter could not be undertaken much earlier for even yet the full liability of the Dominion arising out of the war is not a completely ascertained quantity. However, by next year, with the last of the men repatriated, the contingent liabilities can be more accurately guaged and th° G-overnment should know what -sum will be required annually to meet all the extraordinary charges in addition to carrying on and expanding tho public policy of the country.

The licensing question is to come : up again for consideration at the time of the General Election which it is expected will l>e held not later than the second week in December. At the forthcoming poll three issues will be submitted to the electors, namely: (1) National Continuance; (2) National prohibition; (3) State Purchase _ and Control. According to the provisions of the Act passed last session, each elector may vote on only one of these issues. Should any one issue secure a bare majority of the total votes polled for all the three issues, the issue securing that bare majority will be carried. If no single issue secures a majority of the total votes polled then Continuance wins the day. Under these conditions the Trade stands in a bettor position than heretofore when it was a -straight-out issue of license Or no-lidense. Continuance now has the advantage that it can win either through a direct vote In its favor, or through Prohibition or State Control failing to secure a, majority. There will ho not any question of local nolicense submitted at the forthcoming poll, that i-s prohibition within any particular electorate. The next poll will be on dominion vote deciding a dominion issue. If National Prohibition he carried on this occasion there will bn 7io compensation payable to the licensed promisee which would have to close after June 30th. 1920. If State Purt-hatee and Control should tho Minister of Finance may borrow up to ten million pounds to give effect to the electors’ decision. Polling day will thus cmn-vy with it a decision on a great social question, and it would be well for tbp electors tq study the issues from all points of view betimes, so that when a decision is asked for them they will be able to give it readily from their own point of view.