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Salient: Victoria University of Wellington Students' Newspaper. Vol. 32, No. 3. 1969.

Taxman Robs Us. .

Taxman Robs Us. . .

"Students are being taxed unfairly," says campus activist Les Slater.

"Union and professional association fees are tax rebatable items," he said.

"But the Inland Revenue Department has decreed that the Students Union fee of $13 is no longer regarded as a tax deductible item.

"Most students working during vacations or part-time during the year stand to be denied a rebate of from, about, $1.50 to $3.00, depending on the amount earned and the rate of tax paid.

"With the Paye stem of taxation it is impossible most working students to with-hold the payment of taxes, although the very lew students who are self employed could manage this.

"Furthermore, while primary and secondary education expenses are tax rebatable items, tertiary expenses are not.

"Is there any reason why university fees and text-book expenses should not be tax rebateable?" he asked.

"This would be in the order of 30 dollars for most students who have an extremely limited income during the university year.

Some students do not have bursaries of any sort, and nearly all depend upon their earnings over the vacation periods.

"By depriving students of money to which they might rightfully be entitled and indeed need, the Inland Revenue Department is doing a disservice both to those pursuing higher education and to New Zealand." he said.

Les suggests that student unions at all New Zealand universities take up this matter with the Government and Department of Inland Revenue.

"We should seek the support of other unions, such as freezing workers, waterside workers, drivers, seamen and printers."

This would be an excellent example of worker-student solidarity," he said.