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Hokitika Guardian, 29 October 1928, Page 4

The “Argus” having given Mr J. O’Brien a special puff for his facility to scatter largess as he goes in his back country meetings, rather objects to us pointing out that at Goldsborough his proposal was nothing short*of adding to the taxation ot the poor man if the idea of raising extra money for pensions for all sick and aged, and bereaved, is to be given effect to. However, without waiting for Mr O’Brien to explain his case, our

contemporary promptly jumps into the breach, and modifies the scheme by now asserting Mr O'Brien intends only to apply his scheme to the higher salaried people! Very good, and if we accept Mr O’Brien on that basis, where is he to get all the extra money from, because with the graduated income tax in New Zealand it begins to approximate the British level as incomes rise; and after all are there many of these high incomes to tax m New Zealand? Anyhow', here is a comparative table, above the ,€(500 the “ Argus ” talks of; — ,

Income New Zealand Great Britain £BOO ... £2B 17 6 £65 13 0 £IOOO ... 52 10 0 09 2 0 £1250 ... - 77 6 11 110 13 0

£ISOO ... 106 17 6 182 10 0 It is clear from this scale that the increase in revenue from extra tax levied on high incomes cannot be material; first, because the difference in the level of taxation is not specially great; and secondly, because there are so few o f the large incomes on which this h : <~-’ er taxation may be levied. The suggestion comes to mind that Mr O’Brien was tickling the ears otf bis auditors for a passing advantage, and offering something it was impossible to provide for on the lines of his proposal.