"KEEP THE CRADLE FULL."

NZ Truth, Issue 65, 15 September 1906, Page 4

"KEEP THE CRADLE FULL."

TO THE EDITOB.

Sir,— The above has been a great Liberal expression of late ; but what is there m it ? For instance : The birth of a child (say. a boy) takes place and the first article the newlyborn is wrapt m is taxed, the first taste he has of this earth's foods is dutiable, and the spoon, whether silver or otherwise, with which it is given is taxed, The clothes which the motjher has been so busy with for months past to' make , her offspring presentable are dutiable— every inch of it, more or less, directly or indirectly. Then comes the birfch registration fee of 5s (our Liberal Government which talks so much about "keeping our cradles full" made it £1, but the common sense of Parliament cut it down to ss). /The youngster grows and the more he grows the more taxation the parents have to pay an food and clothing. When he is old enough to go to school there is further taxation on school material ; and so the taxes increase on the parents until he is old enough to bear the burden himself. In the meantime other juveniles come along and the same routine goes, on, until the parents find that it is a struggle to live. In this t have not included cases of sickness or 'death, which would probably double or treble all the taxation already paid. In case of death the little coffin and the mourning clothes and the shroud are taxed, and the ground he is buried m has to be paid for together with other incidental expenses. The lad grows to manhood and ultimately gets married. He then has to pay a heavy rent for a house. If he is fortunate enough to have saved oufficient to buy a Diece r*t land, he builds,

probably on borrowed money, which is taxed. The land is taxed, the" timber he builds the house with, all the materials for;. same, are taxed. The furnishings, clothing and all other etceteras required m a house are taxed, some heavily. On. his, marriage he is taxed right and. left, and his bride heavily ditto for all she wears and j takes into the home. Then they go through i,he ordeal above stated. Not even the free breakfast table so much talked about at election times !is given them. They are taxed from j birth, directly and indirectly, and are wrapt m taxes at death. It is all very well for members of Parliament and Ministers to complain about the decrease m the birthrate ; and the means used for that purpose. They can afford to talk, receiving, as they do, large sums of public money, while the poor unfortunates on from. 30s to £4 per week have to bear, the burden; It is, I think, a well known fact that the well-tchdo class, as a rule, have the smallest families. Is it any wonder then that there is a decrease m .the birthrate ?— Yours, etc., OLD 'UN. Wellington, Sept! 11, 1906.