The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE. MONDAY, MARCH 15, 1915. WAR TAXATION.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 163, 15 March 1915, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE.

MONDAY, MARCH 15, 1915. WAR TAXATION.

(With which ia incorporated The Tai hape Post *lll} W»imarlD«j Newa.)

TTicre ai-o very few among our readers who will not indorse, if not applaud, the action taken by our Borough Council in adding one more reminder to the many the Government has already had of its duly to put the Belgian Relief Fund and other funds, together with all other demands upon us in connection with tinwar, on a more commonsense and businesslike footing. The Mayor, in moving the resolution we refer to, said he did so because lie thought every local body in the Dominion should consider the question and pass some such resolution., and, he added, those people who were best able to contribute ought to contribute, and if they had not dorse so they should be compelled to. He knew there were many wealthy men who gave very liberally, but there were many who were not contributing as they should. The proper course was for the Government to take the whole thing in hand and deal with it in an equitable and comprehensive manner. It appeared as though the Government was afraid t« approach the subject in a businesslike way. Other councillors supported the Mayor’s proposal, and all were agreed that, taxation had to come —the only question was the way in which it should be levied. After discussion the Mayor’s proposal that the necessary money should bo raised by a graduated incometax was unanimously adopted by tlig Council. This subject is being' discussed by very nearly every newspaper in New Zeaalnd, and from what they say there seems to bo two proposals ®nly before the people: one is to levy a surtax on exports and imports, as enunciated by Mr. Harold Beauchamp , chairman of the Bank of Neve Zealand; and the other ts a graduated tax upon incomes. About the fairness and equitablanoss of the. two proposals there is no room for doubt, for while the latter would maks those

pay who were making htigc profits on 1 of the war conditions, as well as those who were rich and well able to pay, -Mr. Beauchamp's proposal would pul the tax on the same old heavily taxed shoulders, on the producer who exports —the farmer —and on the working-class, who pays the majority of the money collected upon imports, letting escape all great - financial institutions such as banks, money-lenders, insurance corporations, shipping com panics, as well as that class to which belong the men who stand immovably between the mealgrower and the Imperial Goverlire ent to levy their pound of flesh before they mala- available die frcez'i.g space they have .speculatively booked. The very best that one Government supporting city journal could say of Mr. Beauchamp’s proposal for a surtax on imports and exports is that “it has started an interesting discussion on the subject of extra public expenditure arising out of the war.” With the alarming depreciation of the purchasing power of money it would be nothing short of positive cruelty to levy further taxation on workers by a surtax on imports, and one can conceive of nothing more just than to make producers pay acceding to their income, and not on what they export, Indeed, it is very doubtful whether any endeavour to further load the workingclasses would not result in serious labour upheavals. We fail to see any justification for advancing a proposal that allows banks, shipping companies and insurance corporations to escape. No argument has been adduced or reason given why such institutions should not contribute to the extra taxation needed in conjunction with all others who are best able to pay, not omitting those who have profited by the war. The contraction of the purchasing power, on the other hand, is becoming an increasingly serious matter to the great body of workers, of which there is no dearth of evidence in the nature of meetings, discussions, resolutions passed, and appeals made to the Govern meit for relief. Railway employees and other bodies of public servants, as well as other labour organisations throughout the country, are feeling the rapidly receding value of their weekly wage, and we feel sure that anything done to materially add to their burdens would meet with a resentment disastrous to the whole Dominion. Additional taxation cannot be avoided; the cause is one that is not permanent and may not arise again for perhaps centuries. Still, the dominating factor in adjusting the incidence of the new tax must *e fearlessness in doing what is equitable, utterly regardless of whatever forces may be operating to make it otherwise. If all well-to-do people realised their responsibilities, and followed the example set by the more than generous giving if Mr. Stixlbolme, of Ruanui, no additional tax would be needed, but while there are wealthy skulkers they should be made to eon tribute what is just and reasonable. Men like Mr, Studholme have recognised their duty to the Stale, and have voluntarily taken upon themselves much more than could have been expected of them. The resolution adopted by the Borough Council is acceptable liecause it appeals to all fair-minded people as an equitable and a humane solution of the difficulty.