THE WAGES TAX

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22142, 22 June 1935, Page 17

THE WAGES TAX

Sir, —A groat d<*til of publicity has been given to the hardships endured by relief workers, who now receive aid in the way of free milk, gifts of clothing, boots and blankets, cheap boot repairs and cheap meat. No doubt their lot is a hard one and even with such help they certainly tread a difficult road. But what of the man, who while equally deserving, is taxed to swell the unemployment fund? —a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul. Through illhealth, my own husband lost his farm in the beginning of the depression, having to resort to working for other farmers for a living. And although lie sometimes still has an attack of his old illness, he has ns a rule to get straight out of bed and go back to work afterwards to enable us to carry on. He receives in wages, after paying wages tax, exactly £2 3s 4d a week -out of which to keep and clothe a wife and two children as well as clothe himself suitably for farm life. Blankets and warm clothing have been depleted to a minimum, economise as one may on the above income. However, in spite of the fact that his position is even worse than some of the relief workers, my husband has been informed he cannot claim exemption from, any of the taxes. There remains little money for clothing, medical expenses, etc.f and, although we are very proud and dislike the thought of charity, it seems most unfair that levies and wages tax should apply to men in such positions, causing undue hardship. Peter's Wifb.