"TAXED FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14855, 5 December 1911, Page 5

"TAXED FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE."

Sir,—l should like to add a few items to your list of the burdens the poor New Zonr ' lander has to bear. i should like to say, first of. all, that in every case you understated the amount of the burden by 2i per ;'•> The duty is counted., on "landed" i\~v cost," which increases the average Customs tax by 2i per cent. You seem to forgot in your list of woes that the poor bride- ; groom, before he can start housekeeping, must have a house, and this is a short list of what he has -to pay in taxation on r the material. On the timber he is taxed 2s per 4.00 foot, on his sashes and doors 20 per cent).; on the iron for the roof he is taxed *2 per ton; on the. nails to fasten the iron, , J 2) per cent; on other nails, 2s per cwt; on cement,'2s per barrel on mantelpieces, 25 per pent.; on varnish, 2s per cwt. If ho lives' where there is no water supply, and *?" s to depend on rain water, be is taxed 2s . od per 100 gallons on the holding capacity of his tanks. » . ' Before he can start on his honeymoon he must pay a tax of 25 per cent, on tho portmanteau that contains his clothes. The tax on hi« clothing, including underwear, boots, . iiatj socks, etc., averages 25 per cent. If ho lives in the country and requires a cart or carriage ho is taxed 20 per cent, on that item, an 20 per cent, on the harness. • the watch in his-pocket and : the clocks •n, iS , .° use produce a2O per cent. tax. J. ho looking-glass he uses for the purpose of shaving costs him a 25 per'cent, tax, and his razo.r and brushes the same, amount. • Having returned from the honeymoon, ha nnds that jus wife requires pots and kettles, ■ the providing of which entails the payment i, ot a 20 per cent, tax; his tinware costs him A rather higher tax, viz., 25 per , cent. Iho poor man finds that he hats now to pay ,9 fc only his own tax, 'but also his wife 6, and should they be blessed with children hie finds that each child is the cause of further taxation, which starts with its bottle and only ends with its coffin. If tho burden becomes greater than he "can bear ho must pay a tax of 20 per cent. on the revolver, and a further 20 per cent. on the cartridges, with which he blows out Jus'brains. Fbank' COLBECK. . Manure