THE INCOME TAX.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 March 1917, Page 7

THE INCOME TAX.

To the Editor. Sir, —The suggestion made br one of the speakers at the meeting of farmers held;at Inglewood on Saturday last, whilst discussing the Finance Act, that "only fools were cswglit," deserves the strongest condemnation. Under that Act it is obligatory to make, to the best of one's ability, a true and accurate return of income and expenditure, and for a speaker to suggest that by so doing one was brought under the category of being a fool was not only a gross insult to those present, but surely comes perilously close to sedition. I am not concerned to defend the Finance Act, end ; .1 perfectly aware of the anomalies which may and do occur, but I have ■waited patiently, and in vain, .'or our farming leaders to propound something fairer. That reactionary body, the" Farmers' Union Executive;, which, by-the-bye, was once in favour of conscription, has protested as strongly us possible against an export tax, because, so they allirmed, it was too easy to collect. They did not say that it could not be dodged, which, I regret to say, has been the case with the Income Tax. Mr. Bakewell did not inform the meeting why it was necessary for the Commissioner of Taxes to apply to the dairv company officers for information. Can Mr. Bakewell explain the silence that existed amongst farmers last year in reference to the tax? Is he not aware of the fact that many with net incomes running into four ligures failed to make anjs return at ail? And in this coim.'ction, I do think the Press most lamentably failed in its duty, or it was too busy pointing out lofty ideals of patriotism to our boys. Poor boys! Many of them are sleeping their 'last lonli sleep, whilst the farmers of this "country are making money faster than ever, and at the same time crying out and whining over taxation. Sir, I read "Pater's" lines, entitled "The Farmer's Lament," with sorrow and shame, because, God help they were true.—l am, etc., JAS. HIKE, Junr. Tikorangi, March 15, Ml 7.