NEW TAX ON BABIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19349, 9 December 1924, Page 4

NEW TAX ON BABIES.

HALF A CROWN FOB GAS. A 'young man told the Willesden magistrate lately that he rented a flat, inclusive of gas. Tho previous week a baby was born, and he hud .received a notice from his landlady that, in consequence of the increase in hia family, ho would have to pay an extra half-crown for gas. The Magistrate: A new tax on babies 1 Preposterous! Don't dream, of paying it. A hard tax. Simply ridiculous! Tho young man made a second appearance at the court a few days later. He said that because ho had refused to pay the increase ho had received a notice that his furniture would be put into the street on the following Saturday. He had asked for amount of the standard rent, as he was being charged 27s 6d a week for three rooms, but the information had been refused. The magistrate granted a summons for failing to give information of tho amount of the standard rent, remarking: "We cannot have a young married couple fined 2s 6d a week for daring to have a baby.”