The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times.) WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1921. TAXATION AND INDUSTRIES.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 April 1924, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times.) WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1921. TAXATION AND INDUSTRIES.

Some interesting figures have been compiled lately showing how both primary and secondary industries are affected bv excessive taxation. A comparison is made between the progress of industries in Victoria and in New Zealand, Victoria being selected for this purpose because its conditions,— population, climate, soil and so forth, —approximate closely to those of the Dominion, and because the Victorian rate of taxation is the lowest in Australia, and very substantially below that of New Zealand. The latest figures available are those for 1921, and by comparing these with the figures for 191 G a concise view of a six-year period is obtained. Taking two primary industries common to both countries, timber production and coal production, their relative progress may be accurately measured. The official figures reveal the following facts*

TIMBER PRODUCTION. Victoria New Zealand Super ft. Super ft. 1916 ... 62,689,000 338,568,278 1921 ... 113,215,000 307,667,834 COAL PRODUCTION. Victoria New Zealand Tons Tons 1910 ... 420,098 2,257,135 1921 ... 604,923 1,809,095 Thus it will lie seen that while Victoria’s annual output of timber increased by 50.620,000 super feet (nearly doubled) during the six-year period, and its annual output of coal by 18-1,-825 tons, New Zealand’s output of timber decreased by 30,900,444 super feet, and its annual output of coal by 418,-0-10 tons. The figures in regard to factories are equally striking, and even more significant, since they deal with secondary industries, which affect - a larger section of the community, and are extremely sensitive to economic conditions. The official figures for Die same period tell their own story: Victoria New Zealand 1916 factories 5,413 4,670 1921 factories 6.532 4,804

1916 hands employed 113,831 52,221 1921 hands employed 140,743 08,206

£ £ 1916 wages ... 11,036,345 0,654,501921 wages ... 21,377,210 12,569,90-

Tliese returns show that, tho increase in the number of factories in Victoria during the period was 1119, in the number of bands employed 26,909, and in the amount paid in wages £10,310.871. The corresponding figures for New Zealand are 134 additional factories, 15,985 additional hands' employed and £5,915,400 additional payment In wages.