SPINSTERS AND THE TAX

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 44, 20 August 1938, Page 8

SPINSTERS AND THE TAX

(To 'the Editor.)

Sir, —In your columns on Thursday one read with much interest and sympathetic understanding a letter from "Feminist" drawing attention (somewhat belated) to the very unjust treatment handed out to single women under the proposed Social Security Bill which is being-placed upon tlya Statute Book by the Labour Party., It is iniquitous enough. that we now have to pay the 8d in the £ unemployment taxation without the right to participate in any sustenance or employment scheme should we have the misfortune through illness or other causes beyond our control to have to join the ranks of the unemployed without being forced to further contribute to a pension scheme for the support of others in far more comfortable circumstances than ourselves. To every thoughtful and fair minded woman the question that occurs ip this: What is wrong with our present Old Age Pension Act placed on - our Statute Book so many years ago? This puts no direct and unfair burden of taxation on the slender salaries of many thousands of women earners, who in the natural course of events will be thankful to avail themselves of this humane legislation. I am sure the Labour Party is reckoning without the "silent" vote in forcing this crippling measure on so many members of the community.—l am, etc., JUST ANOTHER SPINSTER.