A CONTRADICTION.
Sir;—ln yesterday's issue of your paper, I notice that the truant inspector in his last report to tho Education Board cited the case of a lad employed at the Levin Post Office who was 12 years of age and had only passed the third standard. Permit me, through the columns of your paper, to give this staement an emphatic denial. I am in a position to know that all the officers employed in the Levin Post Office have passed the. VI Standard, all are over 14 years of age, and' their educational qualifications compare favourably with those of any other post office in the colony. It is to be regretted that the truant officer is not more careful in his reports to tbe Education Board. Trusting you will insert this letter in justice to the Levin postal staff. —I am, etc., A LEVINITE. December 14,190". PROPOSED NEW TRAMCAR SHED. Sir, —I was glad when I read in to-day's issue of your paper that the. Mayor is not wedded to a. site at Thorndon for tho above accommodation. May I suggest the- Courtenay Place, end of the Kent Terrace reserve. Although not very wide, it has length from Pirie Street. Courtenay Place is a section on'd, and almost central of tho trani service Little expense Ls needed for foundations, and the ground is level.—l am, etc., CHAS. SWINEY. December 17, .100". WHAT SOCIALISM IS DOING FOR US. Sir, —Permit mo to call attention to tho euormous and rapid increase in the taxation of .the .people of this country-that is now taking place. Dividing the whole taxation, general and local, for the year ending March 31, 1900, among the white population it amounted to £4 18s. per head. In 1906 it: amounted-to-£5 13s. lid. In 1907 it had amounted up to £6'3s. 3d. (six pounds three shillings and three penco per head), an increase in one year of nine shillings and four pence (9s. 4d.) per head for every white'man, woman, and baby in the country. Such a statement.seems incredible, but it is not mine, hut what the Government says, and they seem to think that it needs, explanation, "for they add this: "It may he well to call attention to the fact that a full yield of taxation per head of population may indicate (outside the question of increasing ,tho rato ,of any particular tax levied) a satisfactory condition of business as showing activity." But why does riot Sir Joseph explain how it comes that with the."enormous . surpluses the Government claims to have had at command for the last thirteen years, this huge increase, qf taxation should be allowed to take,'place? ' It does not seem that the Socialistic measures'that have, been passed in such abundance by the Seddon and Ward Administrations have decreased the burdens of the people at all. The cost of living has been enormously increased, and the taxation of the people since Mr. Seddon took charge, has increased continually, till now it is £i Jfis. lod. per head per annum more thap it war, then, and of this great increase 9s. 4d. took place during last year—in one year only, be it remembered'. . ' ' ; Socialism is just, 'beginning to tell in New Zealand. We shall find it out in a few years. If a-change is. not soon, made nothing can prevent our 1 railways, State coal miner,, etc., being sold to private companies. However, the Government tells lis that the increase in taxation' is a sigh of increased prosperity. They ought to know. Do they? We shall see.-l am, etc., .' SAMUEL VAILE.
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Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 76, 23 December 1907, Page 5
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595A CONTRADICTION. Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 76, 23 December 1907, Page 5
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