TAXING THE POOR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 154, 1 July 1937, Page 6

TAXING THE POOR.

The emergency income tax on income other than salaries and wages is the most iniquitous piece of legislation ever placed on the Statute Book in Xew Zealand. There are many thousands of people scratching along with small businesses and their incomes are generally far less than the ware-earner who has fairly regular work. At the end of the year they are often quite a = b.id'y off as when the rear started. Say such a business earned £100 and there was a wife and children to keep out nt" it. Vet this unfortunate individual must dub up £3 •> 'S. Could anything be more wicked? The children badly need boots. The mother i< sorely in need of a dress, and there is not a shilling over after the food is bought. And the Libour Government hns not repealed this disgraceful legislation. No wonder there is a strong feeling rising against their sins of both omis<ion and commission. The struggling workers and small !m~ine-s people (who carry every tiling on their back-) should have their bread and butter and clothing before they pay any tax- Indeed, they do pay he.ivy taxes on such articles a~ tea and sugar and many articles of clothing, which, of course, hit the parents bringing up families far harder than the bachelor or childless couple. This Labour Government is riding for a fall, and unless thev shape letter the fall will be wel wn ■!. E. STEVEN SOX.