TAXATION AND TARIFFS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 499, 31 October 1928, Page 10

TAXATION AND TARIFFS

MR. DICKSON DEFENDS PARTY LIVELY MEETING AT PARNELL In an address to electors at St. j Mary's Hall, Parnell, last evening, Mr. J. S. Dickson, Reform candidate for Parnell, faced a running fire of comment from all parts of the hall. He met them all smiling, however, and for over an hour defended the administration of the Reform Party—particularly the policy of the Government since Mr. Coates became Prime Minister.

Mr. Dickson, who has represented this electorate for the past 17 years, suggested at the outset that the record of the Reform Government during Mr. Coates’s regime spoke for itself. He personally regretted that the altered boundaries had eliminated from his district much of Parnell proper. A Voice: Not good for you, Sam. Mr. Dickson: Well, I don't know. The Parnell people have always supported me. and I have been assured of a majority there. Mr. Dickson criticised the financial proposals of Sir Joseph Ward, and recalled that when anything relative to finance was raised in the House, the three leaders of the United Party —Sir Joseph Ward. Mr. G. W. Forbes ’ and Mr. W. A. Veitch—had been emi phatic in their condemnation of the ■ Government for its borrowing opera- | tions. On the other hanu, a Labour member, while condemning the Government. had promised the people all ; the money they would require for ; house building. But how could money j be given over to housing if it were not borrowed? A Voice:. Why not. What about a ! tax upon capital? BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW Mr. Dickson: How can you tax capital if we have not got the capital? The Interjector: YVe have got it, but you are letting it out of the country. Mr. Dickson: Oh; I know I never could satisfy you; I know you well. Another Voice: Now. Sammy; don’t get dirty. Mr. Dickson: 1 will not get dirty. We are just having our differences. In a reference to taxation Mr. Dickson defended the 1927 revision of the income tax schedule, declaring that this alteration had been effected to make the scale more equitable, it having been found that the man on the high salary of £1,400 and £1,500 a year had been paying nothing toward the cost of the war. A comparison with Australia showed that the taxation per capita in 1922 in the Common- | wealth had been £l2 5s and in New Zealand £l2 14s Sd. In 1927 the Australian taxation per capita was £l4 5s and in New Zealand the rate was £l2 5s 6d. This indeed showed a reduction in general taxation and was an effective refutation of the criticism of the Government’s taxation policy. Income tax had been assessed equitably to distribute the burden. The man on £450 annually paid £3 15s in 1914, and now he paid £3 ISs 9d—a verv small increase. “THE BIG SQUATTER"

A Voice: What about the big squatter—the man making £IO,OOO a year? Mr. Dickson: The man on the £9.000 a year mark paid £6OO in 1914, and now he has to pay £1.980. That is now we have made him pay. The tariff policy of the Government was strenuously defended by Mr. Dickson, who said the Reform Government imposed heavy taxation upon luxuries, because the people could afford to pay tor them. On the other hajid, a generous measure of attention had been gnven farming implements, and fertilisers had been carried free on the railways to encourage production. While Mr. Dickson was refuting -•riticism of the railways system, he was interrupted freely by interjectors. who protested about the employment of Dalmatians on relief jobs and public works. “There are not more than 300 Dalmatians in the country,” Mr. Dickson said. . A Voice: There should not be any. What about us? Mr. Dickson: Well, I believe the Britisher should get the job first. Another Voice: Why did you not make a Dalmation general manager of railways ? Mr. Dickson: Well, a Dalmatian might have got the job if he were qualified. HEAVY MOTOR TAXATION 'The petrol tax of 4d a gallon had enabled the Main Highways Board to map out its programme of work costr>£T t nnrnximatelv £2.800 000 \T r

Dickson went on. He believed, however, that the taxation on heavy motorlorries in the cities was too high, and he reiterated his advocacy of the past session to have the rate reduced. In his reference to unemployment, Mr. Dickson took exception to the statement of his contemporary. Mr. J. W. Yarnall, who, in an address to electors, had declared that the Government reply to a plea for work was: “Go and starve.” This Mr. Dickson considered an unfair statement. A Voice: But we have to live. Another Voice: And we cannot live on nine bob a day. Mr. Dickson: Well, when I came here first, the unemployed wage was 3s a day. A Voice: How long ago was that? Mr. Dickson: Forty-two years ago—if you want to know. Another Voice: It is time you were pensioned off! Mr. Dickson said it was imperative that the relief wages be kept down, but as soon as industrial conditions improved, permanent jobs would be available at standard rates of wages. The meeting, amid much dissension, passed a resolution expressing appreciation of Mr. Dickson’s services, and placing renewed confidence in him. A back-bench interjector sought to move an amendment, amid a cry of “The Government is rotten!” but Mr. Dickson said: “I don’t care if vou carry an amendment. It would r.ot be the first time that has been done—but T am still here!”