TO TAX BACHELORS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 144, 19 June 1909, Page 10

TO TAX BACHELORS.

— «a» . Irish local authorities are much given to the passing of resolutions on subjects which have no connertion with the business in hand. The approach of Budget Day has lately turned the attention of some of these enterprising bodies to the question of taxing bachelors. At a meeting of tho Wexford Corporation, a councillor proposed that single men should be taxed to help to provido for old-age pensions. As, however, the Mayor, himself a bachelor, strongly objected to the resolution, it was not pressed. Waterford Corporation thereupon took up the matter, and unanimously passed a resolution, tailing on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to tax all eligible bachelors over the age of 35 years, "as there are plenty of ladies available "to join in wedlock with suitable young men, and as these gentlemen do not contribute what we consider a fair portion of their income towards present taxation." This example was promptly followed by the Clones Board of Guardians, who unanimously resolved that tho time had come for taxing, according to income, aH bachelors who have reached 35, "the money raised in each county to be utilised in providing premiums for young couples who enter the married state before arriving at tho ago of 25 years." The mover of tho resolution declared/that bachelors ought either to be coerced to marry or compelled to pay a. tax, and added that these misguided individuals "had no right to live a single life of blissfulness when the country was teeming with bright, lonely, marriageable young girls." Similar resolutions have been passed by the Limerick and Ca :rickmacros3 Boards of Guardians.

The Book Monthly lolatos thar James Riley. tho Irish-American poet, mcis once saying something as to the poor pa-,- of the literary profession. "But, Mr J?iloy," s>nid a lady, "surely you ha\-p no cause lor complaining. 1 understand you get a dollar a word for all you write." "'Ye-e-*5," said Mr. Riley, with his slow drawl, "but sometimes I sit all day and can't think of a word." '