INDICTMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 March 1923, Page 4

INDICTMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT.

IM.EA rou TUK KKTI'HX OK SIJt JOSEI'H WARD.

From the .Mercantile Gazette)

The result of the contest at Taurano.o will ho awaited with great interesl, ami those who are prepared to f place the well-being of country above the question of party are sincerely dosi rolls that Sir Joseph Ward may be elected. The great bulk of people, outside Labour, think that the time has come when Mr Massey should have someone who may assist him to hear the burden he has been carrying * almost alone since the strenuous 1 times which have passed since Novemher, HUB. Xo previous Premier of 7 Xew Zealand has been called upon to ' meet the- difficulties which have faced tho present head of the Government. - and, taking all things into consider;!- - (ion, even those who are politically hostile to Mr Massey must bear Testi- 1 monv to his courage and to the man- - ful way in which he has done his, duty. *■ To-day there is no other man in Now Zealand who is held in greater respect ' and esteem than he is. That Mr 4 Massey has made many mistakes he ' will admit ; that he started on a wrong principle when he laid down that no • wage-earner in New Zealand should he called upon to make any monetary sacrifice becan.-e of the war, and that as lie cost of living increased wages should he proportionately augmented, i-, clear beyond doubt. Me think that 10 this decision most ot the troubles ur hate had ill New Zealand can he t ••• 1. li increased taxation without j the v ,rkets and civil •cnaiiis j >■ ;(| gl>Ol|, Mill flO 11! it .Spl’i'Ug 1110 pi .-at. ;.,us M fcin miller which the (~.i"i nmoiit. interfered with business I oud intercepted freedom of trade in ..v.-ry direction. The Government in- ! U-rvened in every business activity i and created arbitrary powers lettering | mid harrassing commereial activity. ! which was not allowed to, move along ! mttiii'iil hues. | J lie Oove-nmeut m ii-. jiir- u-ed up I ■ gigantic sum- of moiie.v which had to 1 lie found squeezing the taxpayer until j ! nothing more could he obtained. Nil j j Joseph Ward, when he was Treasurer j in the ( oalilien Government, found it necessary to impose an income tax o! 7s Cd in' the C on the maximum incomes. The country paid it without a ! murmur, as tie- money was required I ||ml was spent in upholding our army, one hundred thousand men. in the held of war; hut aftci Sir Joseph Ward had retired from the Govern ment and the men were all hack in New Zealand following their ordinary civil avocations, Mr Massey ms om.i maintained the tax in all its pristine severity, hut actually increased it to shs (;d, which lie maintained until he reduced it to is hi. the amount a* which it stands to-day. No attempt was made to economise until a few months ago, lull Government expenditure' was increased by millions m efforts to interfere with the hues of supply and demand. Money was wasted in subsidies of all kinds, lie Civil Service wir. intlated. higher wages were paid to everyone, ami ice taxpayer was exploited to the nticrnii.' st fan hong in order that the orgy of extravagance stalled by Mr Mas-ey should he kept going. That ever.vthing done bv him was tor the test, in his opinion, we have r.o doubt, but the result ha- been that bis kimlnos* of heart, the v.isii io make eveiy.me happy. !.a - been terribly expensive for i the taxpayers and very nearly prefipit .lie I a huam il i di a -r a iew j months ago. i If Sir Joseph Ward is elected. Mr ! Massey will at lea ft- lave the beti-.-lit- ! of the splendid bcaneiiil anility which j admit tedlv Sir Je-cph p. sscsm-s, end i we -ee no i-'-son why his liU~!i:o'-s | knowledge ami cxpericm c cannot be ’ made mailable fur the sen ice of the S ".mill ~ ii Sti Jo-cl'h '-'.iid cat. I make arrangriceuls with tic pail.' to ! which he belongs to follow him. we j have no doubt that an entente eor- | .hale can he arranged bet ween tin j two i.d end political groups which i mav, we hope, result in a homo- | gc, moils party that will present a i -olid harrier to .Socialistic legislation. I Me M;■ s-.ev tins lately recognised tin | fact ilial his taxation is now the great j factor which is cliccl.ing the progress |oI industry tttid retarding the wellbeing <.f the country, and he sanl recently —and upon several occasions that same amelioration must be given. If Sir Joseph Ward is returned to j Parliament we fee! sure the iirxt tiling he will press for will bo a reduction of the income lax to ;n near as possible pre-war rales. Mr Coates at the present juncture has intimated that the postage on letters will sbortK- be reduced to the pre-war rate of one penny, which was given to im years ago bv Sir Jo-eph Ward, ami if ihe Government is abli to reduce the high postage rate they pul up »n the people by one hall, we see no reason why they cannot rebate ti.e present income tax by at least the same amount. A maximum of 3would be cheerfully paid. Apron ■ > <•! l!,is we ha ope n io know o! a ease where a big business concern intended to .-pend from twenty to thirty iuouxnnd pounds in erecting premises, blit the iiumue tax pay n,cuts nbsc.rlied tiie leoiicv which would have gone imo buildings. and at a time when unemployment was at its worst. \\ eai looking forward to Mr Mas-ey redeeming his promi-es next sc-mu, and we are quite certain that ii Sir Joseph Wal’d is elected, then, whether be is associated with Mr Massey in the Cabinet or remains in opposition, lv will assist to bring about a reform of that taxation which at the present time amounts almost to a scandal.