THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 17, 21 January 1926, Page 11

THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE.

(To the Editor.* Sir, —Before the election the Premier promised to look into the incidence of taxation with a view to reducing the intolerable burdens weighing heavily on ! the people. I trust this promise is_ not j only an election promise. Apart from I the" killing rents which have arisen to dizzy heights, capturing 50 per cent of the average wages or salaries of a I large mass of the people, the monthly ! statistical abstract just issued on the eve of Christmas shows meat still ranges high in price as compared even with 1920, the peak of pre-war price. The three-food groups show 88 points higher than the very high price of the corresponding price last year. It is astonishing that milk, bread, fleur and potatoes in this food-producing country are dearer than in London, and it is equally astonishing, for the same reason, food retail prices still soar 50 per cent I higher than pre-war. It will. 1 therefore. be seen, the family I man is bludgeoned at every turn; half his salary goes for rent, his domestic expenditure for bare necessities i? 56 per cent higher, and all other require--1 ments aro t>3 per cent higiier. In city : life he pays nearly double Tor his tram j fares. It will now be seen that rent is I the staggering item, and this cannot be 1 altered by the Premier tinkering with the tariffs. It is quite simple. If he i desires to genuinely lower rents let him ! follow the increase in tax. on land i values, as inaugurated in Sir Joseph I Ward's Act of 1910. Down will come I land values to their commercial value. ■ and rents will follow likewise. I fear j Mr. Coates will be afraid to tackle this , vital question, as the controllers of the i legislative machine won't let him if j they can. If he is strong and game jhe can make - himself into a Seddon. by I handling this question; if he shows any I weakness he will, as he has done, go up like the rocket, but come down like I the stick. The three most vital ques- ! tions which are grinding the mass down to breaking point are : (li Rent. i-2< Co3t of living. (3l unequal and burdensome taxation. The Premier must know these matters are vital, nationally, and I Public Works could, for the most part, Ibe let slide for a year am. etc.. j A." HALL SKELTOX.