Cost Of Government

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 306, 21 September 1943, Page 4

Cost Of Government

Sir, —Do .we ever consider the burden the present Government has imposed upon the consuming public of this country. If any benefits have been bestowed they have been ait heavy cost and this has fallen most heavily upon the poor and middle classes, in other words, the rank and file, or you and I. It is not possible in a small space to quote manv articles, but let us take two common everyday needs for a boy of 12 years of age—a navy suit and a navy overcoat. The total cost of these two garments in 1938 would be £3/11/-, but in 1939, after Mr.'Nash imposed upon us import restrictions, the cost increased to £5/2/-, and today is £6/1)/-. These costs have not been overstated, they can be verified by any shopkeeper, or, more important, by any woman who has to buy them, and it would be interesting indeed to see anyone counting up their change out of £6/17/- after purchasing the above. So Mr. Sullivan will be hard put to it to persuade us that the cost of living has only increased some 12 or 13 per ceut. Now let us see what Mr. Nash takes tn taxation. On the above items the sales , tax in 1938 was 2/3; in 1939 it was 3/3, but iu 1943 is 8/9. The cost of goods has increased since the last election nearly double but the tax is four times as great, and Mr. Nash cannot deny this. — I am. etc., ANALYSE IT FOR YOURSELVES. Wellington., September 20.