DOUBLE INCOME TAX.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 53, 2 March 1916, Page 3

DOUBLE INCOME TAX.

A PROTEST FROM LONDON

LONDON, February 28

A meeting hold under the auspices of the London Chamber of Commerce and an Association formed to protest against the duplication of income tax within the Empire, took place to-day in the Cannon Street Hotel, London, E. Th c large hall of the hotel, where all the important business meetings are held in the city was crowded. There wer e 1,800 people present, the number including the represntativs of the coIbnial banks, mercantile and financial houses, etc. There were many ladies present. Lord Southwark, formerly Sir R, K. j Causton, head of the well-known ' printing firm, presided. Mr. J. A. Bryce, Liberal member for Inverness, moved: "That in the interests of trade and commerce and the unity of the Empire it is essential that steps be taken by the Imperial Government to ensure that relief be given in the matter of the imposition of double income tax within the Empire." Mr. Bryce said it was essential that in j these times all the ties of the Empire should be drawn as close as possible. Th e imposition of the double taxes j •night seriously imperil that desired J end. If the head offices of firms wer<- j to leave the United Kingdom there j would be a tendency to get the plant j elsewhere than in the United Kingdom, I though he did not think the Austral- I ians would do that.' He was sure the ' Government would yield if sufficient ] pressure were brought to bear. J

The Hon. R. B. Wise, formerly Agint-General for New South Wales. in supporting the motion, referred to the special hards-hip that a large number of British subscribers to Australian loans suffered if income tax were collected in the Commonwealth and again in Eng Hand. Mr. Wise referred to the great injustice of th 0 Australia--Act of 1914, charging income tax on money which never came to Great Britain. It was especially unjust that visitors to Great Britain should be taxed on money left in Australia to develop its industries. There must be a recognition of the fiscal unity of the Empire. They did not want to shirk their fiscal responsibilities, but their must be equality with the rest of the Empire. He alluded to the £40,000,000 raised in Australia for th c war. It was safe to say that another £40,000 would be i raised. I

Mr. Young, in supporting the motion, •emphasised the fact that Great Britain taxed residents on income wherever it was made. The Dominions only taxed on income made there. Australia was acting wisely in conserving financial control of the companies in Australia, and not driving them abroad. Th e double income tax would not have any result other than to divert money from the Dominions. That would be a most serious state of things from th e Empire viewpoint. There was a necessity to build up the Empire and make it self-supporting, and that was only possible by keeping the moaey in the Empire. He referred to the

thousands of people that came to Great Britain simply because they sent their sons to the front. It was a cruel injustice that they should be paying double income tax because of their patriotism.

The motion was carried unanimously, and it was resolved to ask Mr. McKenna (Chancellor of th c Exchequer) and r. Wm. Hughes (Prime Minister of Australia), who is at present on a visit to England, to receive a deputation.