The Hokitika Guardian THURSDAY, SEPT. 14th, 1922. THE OVERBURDENED TAXPAYER.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 September 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian THURSDAY, SEPT. 14th, 1922. THE OVERBURDENED TAXPAYER.

Taxation was described as “a sore subject,” by Mr S. A. Orchard, president of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, in his address to the annual meeting of the chamber. He said: “There are limits to everything, and the load we are now carrying is exceedingly heavy. I admit that the State must get a revenue, but why not try some other means of taxation and relieve the over burdened taxpayer? There are thousands in New Zealand who do not pay taxes. When times have been so bad that the government must have considerably increased revenue, and can only secure it by taxation,, why not make every individ ual pay? Apparently the only way of relief is through the Customs. Why not increase the primage of 5 per. cent. The public would hardly feel it and it would bring in revenue of probably one and a half millions, and the extra amount received through these channels would be a considerable relief to those who are at present earvyinf? the bulk of the burden, There Is sure to be some objection to th{a On the

part of citizens with growing families some of whom now, probably, find it hard to make ends meet. Still, in a crisis such as this, all should assist >n shouldering the burden, even if their share is small. Tt is only natural, .in the circumstances that employers should carefully watch every expense, and as Labour is so dependent on Capital, and retrenchment is so much jin evidence, until such time as the finances of this country are on a sounder footing Labour must be affected. Hence, it is up to every individual to put his shoulder to the wheel. There is no doubt whatever that the largo number of unemployed is owing to this'cause. If Labour leaders will view the situation from a broad point | of view and urge more co-operation with employers, the quicker the burden will be eased. This chamber has long advocated a Royal Commission to go into the question of taxation, but as it was not acceptable to the Government, the associated chambers recommended that a committee of busi- , ness men should l>e appointed in conjunction with the Government to thoroughly review the position. This was accepted by the Prime Minister and this committee’s recommendations are now before the Cabinet. We shall all he interested in the result. The Pudget- lately introduced does not inspire confidence of an early reduction in : taxation, but, probably, after the gene- , ral election, Cabinet- may he more lib- | oral in its views.” “The strangulating | effect of taxation,” was referred to by j Mr T. G. Russell, who said that no country could prosper that taxed farm, ing people heavily, whether they earned any income or not. He did not see why the cost of Govenimnt in New Zealand should he so extraordinarily burdensome or why some -51,000 'people should be required to rule 1,000,000. ! There was need for Now Zealand to go ! down to Stygian depths of despair, j European countries would, get rid of the military burden and begin to work * That would enable England to spend | more on Now Zealand’s primary products, and the effect would he felt here 1 ' I