Bachelor Tax

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 242, 9 July 1938, Page 13

Bachelor Tax

Sir, —I read with interest “Family Man’s" grievance against bachelors in general, and his proposition that a bachelor tax be levied on all unmarried males of 23 years and over. Is this suggested so that "Family Man” can sit back and smirk behind his hand at his less fortunate comrade, who may be, through no fault of his own, is unable to enter into the blessed state of matrimony? Unless one's job id secure and good wages are being earned it is rash to rush headlong into marriage.

Evidently "Family Man," who perhaps has produced one oy two offspring, feels that he has done his duty adequately, and can snugly sit back and watch his lesser contemporary being penalised in most unreasonable terms, knowing full well that he himself will be immune from any such gross demand. As regards this Government bringing a law to pass in this direction, might I say that there are enough "Red” laws of the Hobson’s choice variety as far as the individual is concerned without introducing another of these unjust end inconsiderate demands upon the small man for "single” man in this case). Apropos the sales tax, I have always understood it is the shopkeeper wjio has to stand the brunt of this and not the socalled fainily man, unless he too, of course, is one of those unfortunate individuals known as shopkeepers I —l am, etc.,

BACHELOR PRO TEM. Wanganui, July 7. [The sales tax is almost invariably passed on to the consumer.]

Sir, —In reply to the above suggestion, may I protest against such a tax, because being my fiftieth birthday, and also I I think the country owes me the tax of £lO a year for life after having fought in the last war for close on five years. I enlisted at 6d. a day and active service at 1/- a day after six months’ home service. In war single men go first to the slaughter. In a depression single men are sorted out again. If this is not indirect taxation I don’t know what is.

With the prospect of another upheaval worse than the last, I think it would be advisable to drop the subject and give the Diggers who are able to look after themselves, be they married or single, a miss. •—I am, etc.,

sth ROYAL IRISH. Carterton, July 7.

Sir, —Although as yet unmarried, I wish to support the view of your correspondent “Family Man” regarding the desirability of a direct bachelor tax, graduated according to age. From the remarks of those in a position to speak with authority on the matter, it seems that New Zealand is doomed to suffer from a dearth of good family life. Any measure calculated to promote more and bigger families, therefore, merits the support of every person with a'sense of civic responsibility. In addition to providing the necessary funds for the payment of maternity bonuses, a bachelor tax (along, I suggest, with a spinster tax on those many single women in good billets) would have the good effect of mitigating the extent to which the unmarried can spend their money on unnecessary things and so create "essential luxuries,” elevating the standard of living to the detriment of those who are upbringing the future citibens of society.—l am, etc., i JEROME. Wellington, July 7.