The economy

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33869, 14 June 1975, Page 14

The economy

Sir, — During the present! 'session of Parliament the! members’ collective minds i appear to have become obsessed with sex, and much I time which is supposed to jbe at a premium is wasted in dreary discussion or questions on such subjects as abortion and homosexuality or whether "deviates” should be legally entitled to practise their esoteric rites on each other in private;! they do in any case and whoi cares. It is a great pity that 1 Parliamentarians do not seem to be able to become; obsessed over the state of our economy or the unrest | which is rampant in the, industrial sector and do; something constructive i about it. It is all very remi-1 niscent of Nero fiddling! while Rome burned. —i Yours, etc., .1. J .HARKNESS. June 12, 1975. Sir. — The air of our’ "over-rated" city is filled with fault-finding. The blame; should more rightly be 11

I attributed to our post-war j ,( politicians. The Land Court! ’system made falsely low j values but facilitated gen-i (erous rehabilitation. The' Minister at that time was! approached, and it was sug-! gested that the time was op[portune to co-operate with) local bodies in the devel-! opment and sale of land; this would have ensured s proper control of values and| I the building up of local body! funds. The scheme could be extended to further co-oper-ative enterprise in the inclusion of fire insurance in the rating charge. The Minister jovially insisted that everything was under control. But, when the people changed their allegiance ] there began the wave of falsely high values, fiendish ' little capitalists, fearful polii ticians and equivocating ’economists. The common people are still paying heav- J lily. — Yours, etc., TERENCE G. CUTLER. 1 June 10, 1975. Rate increases | Sir, — The present rates [, i system is out-of-date and! 'the sooner large cities adopt 1 a system in which persons'■ \ over 16 years and under 21,i and employed should pay a |citizen’s tax of $25 a year,! and all adults a tax of ,tl| i least $5O a year. A foolproof j, system should be worked;, out by a select committee!, j with the above system as al guide. The committee would' consist of lawyers, account-j 'ants and varied business' (heads. — Yours, etc., UNITA FORTIA. 1 June 12, 1975.