TAXATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 March 1924, Page 1

TAXATION.

AIR SNOWDEN’S COM PA K ISDN. mi; -Massfy in reply. WELL! NOTON, March 5 Regarding the statomenl made 1 y the Chancellor of the F.xrhqeuer in Ihe House of Commons a few days ago with reference to the amount of taxation collected tier head m Hie different countries of iho Fmpiro. in which Mr -now-den sn"! tint ) ■ in Britain wa... fit W pet capita for I'L'dlP-C New Zealand UI2 os Ad ami Australia Cl 1 As fid, Mr Massey said:--"I cannot speak lor the other countries. but as far as New Zealand is concerned tills statement was far from correct. The figures were intended In refer to this financial year 1D23-21. hut the Chancellor ha: not included a millien am! a half per annum by which taxation was reduced last session. Ho has also left Maoris out of his calculation, very improperly as I think, ho-

cause Maoris are taxpayers just ns Europeans are, excent that, the land

tax paid by a Native landowner is not so heavy as I lie land tax paid by a European landowner, but I venture to -ay that the average Maori pays just as miicli. probably more by w ay of Customs taxation, than the average European taxpayer. A reference to the last Financial Statement will show that taxation tier head in New Zealand at March :!l lasi was oil 17s Bd. ft is considerably less now. but how much it is impossible lo say accurately until idler the end oi the liiiancial year. "It is somewhat difficult to compare the two countries of Australia and New Zealand, because our financial

year ends on .March -’ll and the financial venr in Australia ends on June .'SO, but, we can get sufficient data for tile piirpost>. in Australia there are two taxes, Federa! tax and State tax. '5 bo maximum Federal income tax. leaving

State income tax out ol i onsidernlion altogether for the time being, is 7s Sd in the £'. The maximum income tax in New Zealand is A* 10 2- id. In addition to the Federal or Commonwealth tax there may bo added by way of State tax. in New South Wale- .’is in the It. Queensland 3s 7d in the C‘. Ta-mania is 3d in the I'. Western Australia Is 7d in the C. In New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia a reduction is made when tho income is derived from personal exertion, that is from tho earnings of a taxpayer resident ol Australia. A most reliable man called to see me on business a few weeks ago. He (old me that- his firm is paying over 12s in the f at present. "From personal knowledge of tile rates of taxation in other countries I have no hesitation in saying that New Zealanders are well oft' as compared with the citizens of other parts of the Empire.”