PRESS COMMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 August 1925, Page 4

PRESS COMMENT.

i* The income taxation section of the Budget will he welcomed fur two rea-sons--that the Government proposes to reduce the rates right through, and that it, intends to do away with the present cumbersome and irritating s -I,.'dule. by which percentages arc deducted trnm rates, and will Dame n new plain law. The intention is P> ,• -cl ll, t to* maximum from -Is 111 2- : ’d io -Is (id. and the minimum from sd to 7d. and to give concessions to intermediate classes. We take it that ransideratiun of the question of shilling more of the burden from the company to the individual is being postponed until the data gathered by the Government in this year’s returns has been collated. This' further reduction m company income tax will, we hope, he reflected in the c"'t of living.- Am khuul “Star."

1 1 E I rue dial nil the turnover for the financial year there was a surplus, toil public apprccia i ion ol that achievement in accountancy must he dissipated by the fact that expenditure was increased to a sum in excess nl the credit balance. And while the Minister, frankly and explicitly declares, almost iu the satirical sense employed by Disraeli ; that rigorous economy is essential, lie also announces that the expenditure this financial year will he ever so much more. It will lie contended, no doubt, in the host manner ol* po!itieians, that there is moderation even in excess. Ihe taxpayer will take a different view of the position, and should demand a severe overhaul of departmental expenditure- — Christchurch “Sun.”

Is Hie Dcpatrtnent quite certain that the secondary schools, for instance, are giving the best education, in the interests of the children and the country? There is a widespread impression that their tendency is wrong, that the character of their training and their whole, atmosphere is to create a bias toward the professions, with the result that there are far too many candidates for the medical and legal professions at the expense of the skilled trades. The capacity of the country to absorb doctors and lawyers is limited, so that any surplus will tend to drift away, and the Dominion will lose the benefit of their expensive education. On the other hand, there is already an unsatisfactory demand for trained artisans, and an almost unlimited capacity to absorb, by expansion of industries, any possible increase in the supply.—Auckland “Herald.”

Nearly half our customs duty is levied on British goods—at least that was the case for the first quarter of the present year—and a great part ol that impost fell upon goods that are not prcdnied or manufactured in this country, so that British trade to that extent was handicapped purely and simply for the sake of revenue. A revision of our tariff with a view to iostering and encouraging local industries and at the same time giving British goods free entry in cases where they do not compete with local industries or industries it is desirable to establish locally, would assist Britain m two ways—by giving her a more favourable market for some of her goods, and by providing work for some of her artisan emigrants—“Lyttelton Times.”

IN ARCADIA. “Who is there, accustomed to the hustle of great cities, who has not wished now and then to escape from it for ever and to seek out a quiet and solitary home deep in the country? And how many are there, of all who have wished that wish, who would not in three weeks have been proclaiming themselves exiles if hy some magic their desire had keen fulfilled? The truth is that once Arcadia is deserted very few are lit to return to it. Perhaps they acquire other virtues, if they lose the virtue of solitude. Towns-

men find it easy to talk in company, but harder to think alone. The question what next to do troubles a true countryman very little, tor the hour, the weather, and the season supply him with tin answer and enforce it. Rural happiness is. in short, like all other happiness, the result, not of idleness, hut of self-discipline.’’— “Times” (Condon).