DEFFERENTIAL CHARGES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 143, 15 June 1909, Page 2

DEFFERENTIAL CHARGES.

SAUCE FOR THE GOOSE, ETC. [FROM OT7R CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Friday. A northern Member is asking the Government to reduce the charges for the treatment of friendly society patients at Rotorua Sanatorium from £1 10s to £1 Is a week, and a deputation is to wait upon the Minister in charge of the Tourist and Health Resorts Department to-day to support the request. But why should any one class of patient be favoured in this matter of charges at a State-owned institution? We are all taxpayers, whether we be members of friendly societies or not, and because a man is a Druid, or an Oddfellow or a Rechabite or what not, why on earth should he get his baths a_t a lower rate than a. taxpayer who does not belong to one of these admirable institutions? My own view is that where a State service is concerned every colonist— every taxpayer, should start off the same tape—a fair field and no favour. Differential rates on the railways, for instance, should be sternly tabooed. It would be interesting to know for instance, the exact number of cases in which reduced fares are charged on the railways during the year and what is the exact loss to the railway revenue thus involved. If I had my way there should not be one single free pass issued, nor one single reduction made. I