New Papuan Taxes Objected To

Port Moresby, August 10.

TO-DAY, representative merchants and planters met the Executive Council and urged rigid economy, and a thorough overhaul of and reduction in this year’s estimates.

The new taxes (primage, 21%; gold production, 31% on gross value; rubber,

5% when the price is Sid. Australian, or more) were discussed. The gold and rubber taxes were opposed, on the ground that they were class taxes, and were imposed actually to make good a shortage in public accounts caused by a demand for £9,000 for pensions There were no objections to war taxa tion, if it were equitably imposed. It was’pointed out that most of the owners of profitable rubber plantations were carrying, also, unprofitable copra

plantations.