The patience and public spirit of the British taxpayer were
well illustritted in Mr. Chamberlain's comparative statement, made last week, of the direct taxes per head here and in other countries. Our burden per head has risen from 11 11s. in 1913-14 to £15 8s. in 1919-20. It has been increased nearly tenfold. A Frenchman paid 13s. 6d. in direct taxes in. 1913 and £2 7s. in 1919. An Italian paid 12s. 6d. in 1913-14 and £2 3s. 3d. in 1918-19. An American paid only 3s. in 1913-14 and £5 8s. in 1918-19. It is well known that indirect taxes play a far greater part in these other countries than they do here. A Frenchman has an instinctive preference for indirect taxes, which he feels that he might evade if he cared to abstain from the consumption of the taxed articles. Nevertheless the statement shows that the British taxpayer is doing his utmost to maintain the solvency of the country. It also shows that Mr. Chamberlain has almost reached the limit of whet is possible in direct taxation. H. -said that the burden per head this year would fall to £14 7s.
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