How Taxation is Killing

Our Pacific Trade

By Graham Kerr

Sydney should be the clearing-house for the South Pacific trade; but, with Aus tralia’s blind restrictions on this, that and the other, the trade is driven else where. Traffic with Fiji and other groups has been driven away.

After all, the question boils down to this; What is of the most advantage to Australia? Does Australia benefit by put ting State and Federal income tax on island produce (on quite an arbitrary basis and on a problematical income) sold here to pay for goods bought here?

To be well in the picture New South Wales claps on an Unemployment Relief Tax on produce sold.

Now we have the Primage Tax on top of the rest! The Primage Tax, although the heaviest, being a straight-out tax, is perhaps the most satisfactory of the lot. The miserable State Unemployment Relief Tax and the State and Federal Income Tax are driving Relief and Income away!

Is it not time for the Governments con cerned to scrap these ridiculous taxes on produce sold here to pay for Australian goods?

Is there no scientific review of the bene fit or otherwise of these measures?

Mr. C. C. Brady, the well-known in spector for Messrs. Burns, Philp (South Sea) Co. Ltd., left by the Makambo last week for Lord Howe, Norfolk Is land, and the New Hebrides ports. He will be back early in November and will then visit the New Zealand and Fiji branches. Probably he will remain in Fiji for several months on relieving duty.