REDUCTION IN TAXATION

Feilding Star, Volume 5, Issue 1127, 15 June 1927, Page 5

REDUCTION IN TAXATION

NOT AT ALL LIKELY MAY BE AN INCREASE (Per Press Association) Acklnnd,. June 14. The possibility of an increase rather than a decrease in .taxation in New Zeaiancl was mentioned in a. letter from the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. I). Stewart) received at a meteing of the Council of the Chamber of Commerce. The -Minister wrote acknowledging receipt of the Chamber’s protest against the Government’s failure to reduce taxation in view of the Budget surplus. The Minister stated that he had tried to make it clear in his speech at Eeilding liow the surplus had come about and that it could not possibily be a basis on which to jusifv reduced taxation, more especially view of the outiook, which might possibly call for increased taxation of the finances of the country were to be kept on a proper basis. However, on the question of any increase in taxation this should not be regarded as a considered opinion, he added. The chairman (Mr A. G. Limn) remarked that they had asked for a reduction, and the Minister talked '.of an • increase. - A-. difficulty was that they did not know whether the surplus was a real one or merely a paper one. Mr Hudson said lie had brought the matter to the attention of the Taxpayer’s Federation, which had better facilities for investigation of Government .accounts than any other 'body. The matter was referee! to the executive for consideration.