The national government’s proposed decision to close the tax office in Aalten caused considerable unrest in local politics and the business community in late 1934. The proposal formed part of a nationwide government austerity programme, under which the offices in Dinxperlo and Terborg were also earmarked for closure.
After the first reports about the closure of the Office of the Collector of Direct Taxes emerged in mid-December 1934, Aalten councillors G.H. Rots and B. Jansen took immediate action. They submitted a motion asking the municipal executive (Mayor and Aldermen) to urge the Minister of Finance to keep the office open. According to Rots, the loss of the office would cause considerable inconvenience to residents. There were also fears that a number of well-paid central government civil servants would leave the municipality. Alderman Somsen supported the initiative and warned that Aalten must take care not to become “an appendage of Winterswijk”.
The mayor, acting as chairman of the council, was sympathetic to the objections but considered the reorganisation unavoidable because of the necessary national spending cuts. He did, however, argue that the ministry should be pressed to introduce supporting measures for the local post office, to which the tax duties would be transferred. Efficient handling and the safeguarding of confidentiality were central concerns. The municipal council decided to send the motion, accompanied by a more detailed written argument, to The Hague.
In January 1935, the Chamber of Commerce in Arnhem also joined the protest. Although the Chamber understood the nationwide drive to reduce expenditure, it had serious reservations about the situation in Aalten. In a letter to the Queen’s Commissioner, the Chamber openly questioned whether the savings achieved by closing the office would outweigh the disadvantages and disruption this would cause to local trade and business.
Despite the broad opposition from Aalten’s political representatives and the Arnhem Chamber of Commerce, the austerity plans from The Hague could no longer be reversed; the tax office was ultimately closed for good.