New Zealand

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 232, 10 March 1915, Page 5

New Zealand

PAYING FOR THE WAR. MR. BEAUCIIAMP'S SUGGESTION. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, March 9. Discussing the question of the best means of raising revenue to meet the exceptional expenditure owing to the war, Mr. Harold Ueauchamp, chairman of the Bank of New Zealand, suggests a war tax of one per cent, on the total amount of our exports and imports. This would spread to such an extent over the whale population as not to be felt by anyone, while at the same time it would pro- \ ide tlie Government with all the revenue i equired. He estimated that such a tax ould yield half a million per annum. One of its chief merits would be the cheapness of collection, as all the machinery was already provided bv the Customs Department. If it was urged that such a tax would press unduly on the producer, who would pay botli the import and export tax, his reply was that as a class the producer had greatly benefited and was still benefiting by the exceptional conditions which had arisen.

RELIEF FUNDS.

Westuprt, March 8. I lie \\ estport. Watersiders' Union, at a lecent meeting, decided to hold a picnic, ilicv voted .-ClO towards the purchase of toys. Last night a general meeting vas held, and it was unanimously decided to forego the picnic and donate ClO and an additional £ls to the Brit ish and Belgian Relief Fund.

MR. MASSEY BUYING MORE.

. A.u-ldand, Last Night. Speaking at. a gathering of his constituents at Waiuku to-night Mr. Massev, referring to the importation of wheat bv the Government; said that the Govern uient had the option over a further million bushels, which would bo purchased if necessary. He had made enquiries about freight, and a .shipping company had ask ed for five pounds per ton. He was not Koing to pay anything like that, so lie made an arrangement under which if New Zealand required and bought that what. three captured German steamers Would be lent to the Government for the purpose of bringing it to New Zealand. No definite arrangement had been made, but those ships would be available if re quired.