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CHINA MAIL
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OLDEST NEWSPAPER IN THE FAR EAST, ESTABLISHED 1845. Australia's Choicest
No. 30,835 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1939 Price: 10 Cts.
THE INCOME
TAX
DEBATE
INCOME TAX, NOT ALTOGETHER surprisingly, completely dominated this afternoon's discussion in Legislative Council on Government's Bud- get proposals.
Unofficial Members, without exception, expressed themselves as firmly opposed to the introduction of income tax, with the Chinese members strenuous and unequivocal in condemnation.
HOLLAND DENIES RUMOUR
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")
London, To-day.
[Attitude of the British Unofficials was, perhaps, most ef- fectively expressed by the Hon. Mr. S. H. Dodwell, who, with no personal objection to income tax, said that the serious opposition of the Chinese communi- ty was the paramount issue and could not be ignored. The risk of a flight of capital was very real. Income Tax might be a dangerous experiment.
The Hon. Mr. Sydney Caine Intervened early in the debate, with one of the most brilliant speeches ever heard In Hong Kong's legislative chamber, staunchly defending the Income Tax proposal, answering each oblection, noint by point. beauty of Income Tax, he said at one stage, is that adjustments can be made to meet hardships in a way impossible with any other tax. No other tax could be equally well guaranteed to avoid hitting the unfor- tunate business man who has made no profit.
Reliable information, from
The Hague denies ru-The mours that Germany had served the Nether- lands with an ultima- tum which brought about the Belgo-Dutch peace appeal. Political quarters here never- theless consider that the
from appeal resulted
a
German manoeuvre. German propaganda has spread in neutral countries rumours that Germany is intending drastic action against the Netherlands and Belgium.
TROOP CONCENTRATIONS
the
Troons have been concentrated on the Dutch and Belgian borders, while the German Government has re- affirmed its desire to respect neutrality of both countries.
Reasons for the manoeuvre puzzling.
Either it is a bluff destined. hide Germany's true Intentions and simultaneously brlnaing - thá neutral Sovarelans to take the Initiative wished by Germany, or It is designed to force the Ailles to protect neutrals against Ger. many, thus justifying a German Invaalon.
are
The debate was opened by the Sen-, mortgaging our financial future for an ior Unofficial Member, the Hon. Sir Indefinite period of time by sending Henry Pollock.
out of the Colony annually more than three million dollars.
Sir Henry said:-I have no com- ments to make on the Budget for 1940-41.
а
In regard to the proposed War Gift
Government, as to the Imperial resident of the Colony for 51 years, during 29 years of which time I have served as a Member of this Council, I make no apology for treating the making of this gift from the point of of this Colony view of the welfare rather than from the point of view of
contributing what must, whatever actual annual sum in dollars is re- mitted to the Imperial Government, be a mere mite in the War Expen- diture of Great Britain.
In taking this view I am supported by the Right Honourable the Secre- tary of State for the Colonies who clearly, and wisely, told us that "there should be as little disturbance as pos- sible with the Colony's current activi- ties and development schemes, so long as revenue to finance them would be be forthcoming."
"CONSERVE OUR-RESOURCES" : It is our du therefore. In this Council, in considering the amount of dollars to be remitted to the Imperial Government as a gift, to look ahead. beyond the immediate present, and to conserve our resources for "current activities and development schemes."
I am convinced that it would not be prudent finance to make an annual .contribution to the Imperial Govern- ment of a larger sum than $3,000,000, In addition to the $6,000,000,- per Well-informed audrier here are annum which we have to pay for our of opinion that the f Sovereigns Lórdinary Military Contribution and to discussed at their meeting at The the sum of nearly 24 million dollars Hague the ep-ordinatión ef preter-in respect of Defence and, Speelal War tion measures, and anwealèd for penes expenditure for 1840-41.
THREE POINTS to prove to the world their absoluta neutrality and good faith.---Havas.
COORDINATED RETION
My fasons for holding this opinion
***(1) That nobody can foretell how KÄTHER FORECAST:—North-east | long the present war' will last, and, nda, moderate; fine to aloudy. therefore, that we are not justified in
(2) That the total amount required to be voted eventually to complete the following items in Public Works Ex-
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BUTTER
POINTS FROM SPEECHES
Sir Henry Pollock: Income tax will seriously upset Chinese ca- pitalists and industrialists in this Colony. Other taxes which would not involve the risk of injuring the trade and prosper. ity of this Colony ought to be substituted.
Mr. T. N. Chau: Official inva. sion of the "Inner counter" of the Chinese business man means more than the disclosure of his business secreta.
Mr. M. K. Lo: The underlying Idea is a free and spontaneous gift by the Colony to England and not a tribute to be exacted from an unwilling population.
Mr. Sydney Caine: The great beauty of an Income tax is that If you have no income you pay no tax. 1 cannot follow Mr. Chau in his belief that human- Ity is divided into Chinese and the rest.
Mr. Li Tae-fong: In my opin- lon, the Government could fall back on the Colony's surplus ba- lance.
Mr. Leo d'Almada: Prudence surely counsels its abandonment. Mr. Shielda: I would urge Government to examine alterna- tives.
Mr. Dodwell: The Committee how sitting may succeed in de- vising some method of making it less objectionable to our friends.
Mr. Pearce: The financial and commercial interests of the Co. lony and therefore it's future
prosperity will be affected.
Paris, To-day.
Berlin-Munich telephone com- munications were cut after the explosion in the beer cellar, states the Amsterdam correspon- dent of Havas.
Reuter.
Let this name-plate guide you to the finest in refrigeration.. Sole Agents DODWELL & CO., LTD., Alexandra Bullding, Telephone 28021.