COSTS OF GOVERNMENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1001, 18 June 1930, Page 9

COSTS OF GOVERNMENT

• EXPENDITURE GONE BEYOND LIMIT” INCREASE IN TAXATION Fress Association HASTINGS. Tuesday. Economy, greater production and less taxation Mere the keynotes struck by Mr. J. S. McLeod, in the annual presidential address to the Hastings Chamber of Commerce. Taxation, ho said, Mas soon going to be an all-ab-sorbing topic. “The Government has given n very emphatic warning that it is going to be increased. It increased it last year, and now it is going to increase it further. It was particularly noticeable, however, that not one member of Parliament had suggested economy in administration. The Government sh >uld set an example by so managing its own affairs that it would achieve economies in managing the country. It was time the electors showed their conviction that Government expenditure had gone beyond the limit and could not continue without the country being forced into bankruptcy.” Mr. McLeod condemned the land-tax and reiterated that the general taxation of income was the only fair system. If each paid according to bis income all would insist on economy in Government expenditure. It was also time the Government reviewed the management of its departments. There was evidence of much wasteful expenditure. Government functions had grown haphazard, and there was need for curtailment. Whatever happened, he hoped the chambers of commerce throughout the Dominion would do something to assure that the new taxation should not be as absurd as that of last year.