Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 72, 1 March 1916, Page 3

Great Britain

f i THE DOUBLE INCOME-TAX. ' BUSINESS-MEN PROTEST. f « United Pkkhs Association. London, February 28. Under the ausjfices ot the London Chamber of Commerce and the association formed t/o protest against tho duplication of income-tax within the Empire, a meeting in Cannon Street Hotel Hall was crowded. Fight hundred people Cwere present, including representatives of colonial hanks, mercantile and financial houses, private people, and many ladies. Lord Southwark presided. Mr Annan Bryce, M.P., moved that in the interest of trade and commerce and the unity of the Empire essential steps should -be taken by the Imperial Government to insure relief being given to the imposition of a double income-tax within the Empire. He said it was essential at these times that all ties of the Empire should he jdrawn as close as possible, and the 'double tax may have the most serious (effect in preventing this. If the head offices of firms leave the United Kingdom the tendency would be to get plant somewhere else, though he did not think Australian companies would do this. He was sure the Government would yield, if sufficient pressure , were brought to hear. Mr B. 11. Wise, in supporting, made reference to tlie special hardship a large number of. subscribers of Australian loans would bear. He referred to the great injustice of the Act of 1914 in charging income-tax on money which never came here. It was especially unjust that visitors here should he taxed on money leit in Australia to develop its industries. There must he a recognition of a fiscal unity of Empire. Australians did not want to shirk their fiscal rosponsihilitien, hut they must he on an ('quality with the rest of the Empire. He alluded to the forty million pounds raised by Australia tor the war. and it was sale to say that another forty millions would he raised. Mr S. V oiing, in supporting the resolution, repeated his previous arguments. and emphasised that Britain taxed residents’ incomes wherever made. The Dominions were only taxed on incomes made there. He said that Australia was acting wisely UF conserving the financial control ol companies. Australia was not driving them abroad. A double income-tax would not have any result other than to divert money from the Dominions, and that was a most serious state ol .things from an Empire point of view. There was necessity to build up the Empire and make it self-supporting, and this was only possible by keeping money in the Empire. The motion was carried unanimously. and it was resolved to ask .Messrs McKenna and Hughes to receive a deputation.