New Zealand

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 41, 24 January 1916, Page 8

New Zealand

' MEETING OUR OBLIGATIONS. i :•;"•" PEE PeESB L&8(iOOIA¥r0jN". Mr;"' ■ v. - ' Auckland, January 2-1. Mr M'assey was asked in the event of the British Military Compulsion Bill being passed whether his attitude in securing reinforcements in the Dominion would be affected. He replied: ''Not a bit. Our attitude is perfectly plear. It all depends on the supply of men. To the present that has been Sufficient to meet obligations." Asked whether the adoption of compulsion in England was likely to modify the considered policy of the Cabinet, ho said he was not in a position to express any opinion. I MR MASSEY ON TAXATION. Auckland, January 2-1. The Premier, discussing the demands tha.t have been made in some quarters for a conscription of wealth as well as a conscription of men, said: If they mean that Parliament and the Government are to' take pussession of all the' - wealth for war purposes they are asking what is obviously impossible. Th© amount taken compulsonly by _taxation by the legislation of lasjt session is approximately two millions per annum. If the war is continued more money would be required in exactly the same way. The people now asking for increased taxation would probably be the first to suffer if it became' necessary to go further. With reference to the demand for graduated taxation, Mr Massey said the income tax was graduated and many of tn*e larger linns arid companies were paying a higher rate of income tax illd also paid 9 graduated land tax ontheir ' business premises. Ordinary land tax was not increased last ses- , sion, but the graduated tax was in-, creased' all round, fifty per cent in- ] creaße.s.in some instances running into ttany hundreds per annum.