The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 1916. TAXATION AND PROFITS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 144, 21 June 1916, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 1916. TAXATION AND PROFITS

(With which is incorporated The Tai bape Post and Waimarino News.)

Ther e is no Indication given by the Allies that an early termination of the war is expected. In fact all evidence goes to the contrary, but that does not necessarily mean that th e war will continue any great length of time. War conditions in the maintenance of a state of mobilisation may obtain for a reasonable period after peace has preliminarily been agreed upon, and after that the assimilation of the men in khaki into ordinary industrial life will be a slow process at the commencement. Hence we find the Imperial authorities are still making provision for feeding an immense army for, at least, another year. The bearing of this upon New Zealand will be to keep up the highly remunerative prices of its primary products, to form the basis of profits out of all proportion to the cost of production. And yet even cheese-makers are quarrelling with that which is making them rapidly rich. They, like many others are insatitble; they cannot be satisfied: they have fastened on to the war, bleeding it to every possible extreme and although they are full they continue to suck and fight for still more. It is truly a marvel that the British Empire has been able to find the resources wherewith to successfully, so far. prosecute the war, while huge sections of its people are sucking leech-like upon its vitolity. The news that sous or brothers have fallen to the German bayonet or shrapnel, or that they and their brother countrymen have become the victims of German frightfulness, has no impression on the greed of the vulturelike proclivities of some men who grow or produce food for those who are lighting their battles. So it is we see disgusting clamour for more and still more of that upon which most authorities are agreed the war must turn —money, What avc waujt

to point out is that while these exhibitions of greed continue there will be a rapidly growing agitation for what is termed conscription of wealth. We have been told that New Zealand is safe from anything of the kind while the Massey Government is in power. That may or may not be true; it may be a compliment to Mr Massey or otherwise but its an unsatisfactory foundation upon whic i to eiect a superstructure of greed. The FinaiciaJ Statement only just brought down has, unmistakeably, introduced the conscription of money, and there is very little doubt but that it will become law, despite the fact that it is largely men who will be affected that have to make it law by their votes. It is a pitiable thing to see any individual or section of the people grasping and fighting for prices altogether out of proportion to the cost of production, while the insinuating act of Parliament is taking half of what has been made besides leaving them liable to all other ordinary taxation. It is realised by Home and Dominion authorities that war conditions with high prices for all food products are likely to continue for a year or two yet, and this country will continue to add to its riches. Individual producers, despite the war taxation that such huge profits made ineA itable, will experience an extended period of good fortune. To this view there can be but the frailest opposition, for there is nothing in sight at present to warrant the thought of any neai return to pre-war prices for our products. Th e taxation outlined in the budget is a natural corollary of high prices, and although forty-five per cent of excess profits is being taken, it should be remembered that sixty per cent is already being taken in Britain. Why this country should pay less is not quite clear, as we are as deeply concerned m winning the war as the Motherland can be. |We remain free with Britain, or we become a German province with her. Therefore there should be a feeling abroad that we are receiving preferential treatment in the levying of taxation which should invite general satisfaction and agreement rather than howls against paying what is less than we ought to contribute towards winning our freedom.