NO INCOME TAX.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 365, 20 February 1937, Page 4

NO INCOME TAX.

Happy Position of Kenya

Colonists.

It will be of interest, but little compensation, to the average New Zealander to learn that up to the present income tax has been an unknown quantity in the government of Kenya. Now there come insistent rumours that it is to be introduced, some of the people w/i smaller incomes having been agitating for it. The new's was brought to Christchurch by two visitors from Africa, Messrs J. N. Pedley and C. C. Kent, who have come to New Zealand to investigate reports, of the excellent fishing to be had. Many people, particularly retired Army officers, had been attracted to Kenya by the absence of income tax in the past. Previously the only direct taxation payable in the Crown Colony was in the form of a flat rate of 30/- for all Europeans, old and young. Additional revenue was raised by indirect taxation tuch as Customs taxation and petrol taxes. TCe flat rate of 30/- had subsequently been replaced by a non-native graduated poll tak which whs paid more in the nature of a tax on income. It seemed almost certain now that income tax would be substituted. ‘‘Legislation has not been passed,” said Mr Pedley. “but it is brewing.” The collection ot taxes' from the Indians was a difficult matter. They numbered about 50,000 in the colony, and some of them were very wealthy. By nature they were just as averse to paying taxes as the vhite races, but they were much more astute at avoiding payment and the ruses they adopted were, to say the least, interesting. The white population numbered only a small 15.000 to 17,000 amdmg 3,000,000 natives.