26 FEBRUARY 1927, Page 1

The Majority Report provides a full survey of the incidence

of the various forms of taxation. The opinion is expressed that the standard of living of the wage-earner has, on the whole, improved since 1914--this in spite of the fact that in the judgment of the Majority the national savings have fallen by £150,000,000 to £200,000,000 a year. This fact gives the Majority " ground for anxiety but not for pessimism." The Majority Report reaches the conclusion that the level of post-War taxation has not had a commensurate effect on prices, although natur- ally industry has suffered from the high Income Tax and Super Tax. This is a contradiction or rather modifi- cation of the common belief. The Majority, in fine, consider that the burden- of taxation is less crushing than it is often represented to be, and they think that it will be borne " with comparative ease." We wonder.

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