COST OF LIVING

Hokitika Guardian, 7 June 1920, Page 2

COST OF LIVING

COMPREHENSIVE RESOLUTIONS

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, June 4. A public meeting, called bp the lleturncd Soldiers’ Association, considered the cost of living question and passed several lengthy resolutions, including the following:—

“ That this meeting Relieves that the intolerable increase ‘in the cost of living is largely due to conditions that can be controlled by the Government, and therefore calls upon th.e Cabinet and Parliament to take immediate steps to reduce the paper currency, to impose a levy on all war profits, and grant by legislation the right to duly authorised officers to inspect the invoices and books of any trader, so as to ensure the immediate deetion of any profiteering.” “ That this meeting calls '• upon . the Government to control profits by fixing a standard rate of interest for eacli class of business and industry, to reduce tlie customs, duties on the necessaries of life and increase the duties on certain luxuries; to cheapen by means of an export tax and control at prices the cost of butter and meat, and to place an export tax on wool.”

“ That the income tax on companies and manufacturers of the necessaries of life be abolished, and that a yearly tonus of at least CIO for'each child be pa-id to families having incomes under £250 per

year.” Cither resolutions called upon tl:« Government to appoint a Minister for Housing, to skip land aggregation, to increase Hie land tax, to acquite compulsorily land suitable for settlement, to revalue all land for taxation purposes, and to stop nil speculative traffic in land. The local president of the Returned Soidiers’ Association said that tin;,- Association would take charge of the resolutions and press them persistently on,the attention of the Government. .