Story: Taxes

Depression workers

Depression workers

Men on an unemployment relief scheme dig a drainage ditch in the winter of 1932. One wears a sack while another uses a sack as a cloak. The government introduced new taxes in the 1930s to fund work schemes for the unemployed. In 1931 an ‘Emergency Unemployment Charge’ at a flat rate of 1.25% on all income was put on top of a £1 poll tax (around $126 in 2008).

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Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: 1/2-027086; F

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Paul Goldsmith, 'Taxes - War, depression and increased taxes – 1914 to 1935', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/21537/depression-workers (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Paul Goldsmith, published 11 Mar 2010, updated 2 Sep 2016