Goods and services tax

Press, 9 May 1985, Page 12

Goods and services tax

Sir,—As a superannuitant with other income so minor that my total tax paid each year is less than $2000,1 am puzzled as to the relief I can expect to receive when 10 per cent (maybe more) additional money has to be found for every type of goods and service. I began jotting down items of regular commitments, too numerous to mention here, but including the obvious such as home insurance, contents insurance, car registration and insurance, plus maintenance, electricity, telephone rental, television licence and maintenance contract, petrol, etc., etc., then added a conservative estimate for food and clothing (all on an annual basis) and quickly reached a total of $lO,OOO, presuming my health, including eyes and teeth remain O.K. Maybe $2O tax free a week will be added to my super to get me back to square one? Might be a good question for the Labour candidate in Timaru? —

Yours, etc., RAY ROBINSON. May 7, 1985.

Sir,—With declining school rolls and the consequent cost per capita of upkeep in school services, and the inability of families to contribute as in the past, school fund raising presents problems. I believe that the goods and services tax will exacerbate the situation. I also believe that school committees and parent-teacher associations should immediately and separately communicate to the Minister requesting exemption of school fund raising from GST. — Yours, etc., t. m. McKenzie, Kokiri. May 3, 1985.

Sir,—One would think that when Government departments started to use computers government would be more efficient and cheaper. Not so. Administration and Government service charges are soaring, likewise the number of public servants. Work had to be found for the computers so the GST was invented. They do it in Europe don’t they? Never mind that the tax causes inflation, small businesses to close and unemployment, so long as the bureaucrat worker bees with their computers are kept busy. No doubt the one who foisted this horrendous tax upon a defenceless population will get a

hood for his troubles like his predecessor. — Yours, etc., P. A. VAN DUGTEREN. May 8, 1985.