TAXES.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 August 1920, Page 5

TAXES.

REVIEW BY THE PREMIER. NEW ZEALAND'S ADVANTAGES. By TolasrapU.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the House of Representatives this evening, Mr. Massgy, reviewing the discussion which took place during the afternoon, eaid that the work of the Government was further advanced this session than he had ever known it. Twenty-nine Bills had been submitted to Parliament, thirteen of which had been passed, and the remainder were now before members.

The Taxing Bill introduced could not be held back, as had been suggested, because the Taxing Department must have at least six months in which to make their arrangements, and the -position would not permit of postponement. When a Bill now before the Public Affairs Committee came down, members would have a fuR opportunity of discussing the whole question of the in-., cidence qf taxation, but that question was not involved in this measure. . Regarding the collection of Customs revenue, he pointed out that there was a general idea that we were now; collecting a greater percentage of Customs revenue' tiian we were doing in' 1900 Tor instance, then we weTe taking, 38.39, but to-day we were only getting 18.37 per cent, of our total revenue fropt thc ; Customs. On the other hand, taxe'B such as land and income taxes had risen very considerably. Discussing the income tax, he said our exemption was the highest in the world, and he wfis proud of it. He was also proud of the fact thijl; individually the people in New Zealand were also amongst the richest in the world. Following upon Mr. Massey's remarks, a discussion on taxation proceeded on lines similar to the afternoon discussion.