BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 March 1916, Page 5

BRITAIN.

double Income-tax. A HOWL OF PROTEST, Reecived Feb. 29, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 28. tTnifer the auspices of the London Chamber of Commerce and the associatidh formed to protest against the duplication of income-tax within the Empire, a meeting in Cannon Street Hotel Hall was crowded. Eight hundred people were present, including representatives of colonial banks, mercantile and financial houses, private people, and many 'ladies. Lord Southward presided. Mr. Annan Bryce, M.P., moved that in the interest of trade anil commerce and the unity of the Empire essential steps should be taken by the Imperial Government to insure relief being given to the imposition of a double income-tax within the Empire. He said it was essential at these times that all 4ies of the Empire should be drawn as close as possible, and the double tax may have the most serious effect in preventing this. If the head offices of firms leave the United Kingdom the tendency would be to get plant somewhere else, though he did not think Australian companies would do this. He was sure the Government would yield if sufficient pressure were brought -to bear. Mr. B. £. Wise, in supporting, made Teferenee to the special hardship -a large number of subscribers of Australian loans, would bear. He referred to the great injustice of the Act of 1914 in charging income-tax on money which never came here. It was especially unjust that visitors here should be, taxed on money left in Australia to develop Its industries. There must be a recognition of a fiscal unity of Empire. Australians did not want to shirk their fiscal responsibilities, but they must be on an equality with the rest of the Empire. He alluded to the forty million pounds raised by Australia for the war, and it was safe to say that another forty millions would be raised. Mr. S. Young, in supporting the resolution, repeated his previous arguments, and emphasised that Britain taxed residents' incomes wherever made. The Dominions were only taxed on incomes made there. He said that Australia was acting wisely in conserving the financial control of companies. Australia was not driving them abroad. A double income-tax would not have any result other than to divert money from the Dominions, and that was a most serious state of things from an Empire point of view. There was necessity to built up the Empire and make it selfsupporting, and this was only possible by keeping money in tbe Empire. The motion was carried unanimously, and it was resolved to ask Messrs McKenna and Hughes to receive a deputation. A FRATERNAL MESSAGE. FROM MTNERS TO , AUSTRALIA. t London, Feg. 2S. Mr. Brace, Under-Secretary for Home Affairs, and Mr. Pratten addressed 15,000 miners at Merthyr. The meeting accepted Mr. Brace's suggestion to send fraternal greetings to the Australian miners and assure them that the Welsh colliers will do all that is possible to cooperate with them to help to win the war. The colliers generally expressed the highest appreciation of what the Australians had done.