WAR TAXATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 308, 7 June 1915, Page 4

WAR TAXATION.

EXPLANATION BY THE PRIME MINISTER.

(By Wire.—Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Niglit.

The Prime Minister, who has returned from the north without talcing the platform in either of the by-election contests, states that he was misrepresented by a telegram attributing to liim an assertion that there would be no special war taxation this year. The telegraphed report was a garbled account of wihat he liad said to a deputation from the Sports Protection League. Reporters had not been admitted with •the deputation amd, apparently, the members had made their own statement to the pressmen afterwards. "As a matter of fact, there will be some additional taxation," said Mr. Masscy when mentioning this matter to your correspondent. "What I said in Auckland was that the finances of the Dominion were in sucli a good condition that, if it were necessary we could postpone the imposition of additional taxation over this year. I added that it would not be wise or advisable to do that. The proposals of the Government ■will be made known when the •proper time comes. In the meantime, I can only say again there is no reason for anyone to fear that the Government is going to place an unfair burden on any particular section of the community. Our aim will be to distribute the tax over the whole community in aenordanve with ability to pay." The Prime Minister had nothing to say regarding the prospects in the Bay of Islands and Taumarimui, but one gathers that lie had returned from his trip to the north in a very confident spirit. The leader of tlfe Opposition is quite as cheerful as the Prime Minister is, however, so that there is no particular augury to he drawn from Mr. Massey's smiles. The fact af t'lie matter is that each side lias put forth its best efforts and must leave the decision now in the hands of the electors.