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The
bring the method of signing ships crews on an off into
consonance with that in force in other parts of the
Empire and legislation to this end will be proposed before the end of this year. The total increased return is expected to approximate to $364,832.
Government is loth to take any step that increases the
charges on the shipping of the port, but Shipping
Companies in the majority of cases either operate on
a gold basis or have increased their dollar charges.
The present Light and other Dues were imposed when the
dollar was worth something about double its present value so that the proposed increases cannot be regarded
as other than fair and equitable.
But the most important item in the Government's programme for raising additional revenue is the proposal to increase the General Assessment Rate by 4%. This
is the fairest in its incidence of all forms of direct
taxation, and is the easiest and the most economical to
collect. Extra taxation being unavoidable early examination of this source was equally so: and it could
not help but be selected. I would remind Hon.Members
that the extra rate was 7% during the War Period, and even if the Government had to reimpose this figure now action which it is hoped to avoid
reference to
Mr. Southom's
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