THE BUDGET.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 August 1915, Page 5

THE BUDGET.

ROUGH ON THE FARMERS. INCREASED LAND TAX PREFERABLE. "I certainly intend to criticise the Budget in the House," said Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, tho member for Egmont, to a Wellington Times reporter. "The present proposals are exceedingly rough on the farmers. They do not keep accurate records, and to prepare returns giving particulars of income will be exceedingly ' irksome. Indeed, in many cases it will be impracticable to get the necessary returns. Farmers very largely employ thoir own families, wages are not paid, and it will be difficult, if not impossible, to show what amount might be termed profit upon which the income tax will be levied. It seems to me a straight-out increase in land-tax would be preferable, and the cost of getting the extra money would be nil, whereas in the present proposal a large staff of clerks will 'have to be employed checking the returns supplied by many thousands of farmers. "A tax on kerosene will he resented by countryi people all over the Dotainion. This is a tax on light and 011 power. Of course, I recognise the difficulty of taxing benzine and allowing kerosene to remain untaxed, both being used for power purposes. Nevertheless when country people are called upon to pay an extra 3s a case they will strongly object. "The telephone lwreau charges are to be increased 100 per cent in many instances. This will hit country districts heavily, and probably load to a discontinuance of telephone communication. For instance, in Taranaki we have quite a numiber of small towns all connected 'by telephone. Every communication made between these towns will l>e charged up at the rate of 6d, which is a ridiculous amount. If the rate had been increased to 4d it would have been a reasonable thing. As it is in all probability the large increase made will result in very little extra revenue being received. The same circumstances applies to postage. The extra charge for telegrams seems reasonable, though there has been no increase on press messages, which are now forwarded at a heavy loss to the general taxpayer. "The ke.er tax will probably; prove the greatest bane of contention, tnt proposed increase being altogether inadequate. Members will not b c Satisfied unless the present tax oiSA&v gallon is doubled. The soft drink is absurd, and will certaral.V- not • Warrant the cost of collection. If it wen. thought necessary to tax "°" alcol ' ol '° drinks the simplest tax would have been a small duty on tea, which is now free in New Zealand, whereas in England sd per" lb duty is payable." -