EXPORT TAX

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 520, 6 April 1920, Page 2

EXPORT TAX

VIEWS OF NEWSPAPERS. Some of the newspapers of New Zealand believe that a remedy for the increasing cost of living wculd • found in the imposition of an export tax. The Dunedin Star, for instance, says: This is a measure justified by present abnormal conditions, simple in its operations, instantaneous in its effect, and equitable in its incidence. It might have been applied with great advantage during the war, but that opportunity passed. Once again the country is faced with a tremendous rise in the values of our own produce-a rise resulting from war conditions - a rise whii-h the producer as an individual has done nothing to merit. Will Mr. Masse.v and the Cabinet, face the posit-on? Have they the courage and the vision to do the right tiling and to take the only step which-.will, in one simple opera-* tion, "draw off," as Professor Bedford once wrot?, for the use of the State at least a portion of these war profits which belong to the State, and not ttj the individual, and at the same time automatically stabilis J land values and cheapen to the New Zealand customer these necessaries of life which his own industry assists the producer to transport and to market?