A TAX ON BACHELORS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20594, 19 June 1930, Page 14

A TAX ON BACHELORS.

Sir, —Your correspondent "Pater Farnilias'' suggests that New Zealand bachelors pay a quid pro quo, and then in (.lie same letter propounds a scheme for ten quid per annum. One naturally asks where is this quid business going to stop ? We will have to form a bachelors' protection Society if any greater sum is demanded. Ten quid pro quo may bo a cheap way out of the difficulty and well worth the money if the only. alternative is double harness. John Single. June 16, 1930.

Sir, —"Bachelor from Birth." is under tb« impression that the suggested lax on bachelors represents an effort to drive men into wedlock. On the contrary, the urgent necessity is to obtain revenue from those most able to provide it, i.e., the man without dependants. As for my friend's reference to single men being the .first to lose employment in times of financial stringency, well, if a man is unfortunate enough to be out of work, he has no wages to tax. There are already deductions from the taxable amounts, at the rate of £SO per child up to sixteen years ot age. Why not a further deduction of, say, £IOO for one's wife, thus totally exempting many anxious breadwinners, and make up the income tax deficiency from (hose who have only themselves to v provide for. It is those in particular whose principal interests iii life are sport, parties, entertainment, etc., and ftho vet enjoy all the advantages of the national services, without financial obligation, who should be called upon to make up the possible three million deficit. Pater Familias.