WAGES TAX

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1932, Page 5

WAGES TAX

FEDERAL RELIEF

FOR WORK INSTEAD OF DOLE.

(Australian Press Association.)

(Received this day at 10.15 a.m.) SYDNEY, June 28

A scheme tor the imposition of a uniform wages tax throughout the Commonwealth to provide work in place of ’the dole was submitted to che Federal Mim/ttr of Works, the Hon. Marr, by an influential section of Sydney busiuen? men. The Mini-tor .forwarded the proposal to Mr Lyons for consideration. Mr 1C ait stated that he was in favour of a uniform basic wage chroughout the Commonwealth , and a uniforn) ■ working week. This was the policy of his Government.

The scheme, for a uniform wages tax provided that there should be a tax of oie shilling in the pound on salaries and incomes up to £3OO a year, and that there b e a halfpenny increase for every £SO over that -amourn;. This tax would bring, in about £20,000,000 ,a year.

The “Telegraph” in an editorial states: “Gan Australia afford to give to her seven governments more than half her totai income? This is the main question wi;h which the Premiers’ eonJ'erunco meeting at Canberra to-day has to deal."

The “Tbiegraph" then publishes figures to show that th e governments took 10s 3d in the £ of the income in 1931, and concludes: "So far the taxpayers have soon it heir incomes shrink and shrink, while the taxation increases. No wonder there has been unemployment.”