LABOUR TAXATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23515, 1 June 1938, Page 12

LABOUR TAXATION

ro mil ici)mm Sir—What a feast of taxation the Labour Government has enjoyed! This Government reminds one of a youth who, unused to responsibility and the holding of large sums of money, enters upon an orgy of spending. We have 10,000 extra employees in the Government departments and 7000 extra Public Works employees, all receiving high wages and working only 40 hours weekly. Don’t forget that another mortgage was placed on the farms of this Dominion to give employment to these extra Public Works employees. To cap all, acording to the Abstract of Statistics of December 22 last, there were 18,110 men on sustenance, and if 8000 of these were unfit for work, this means that 10,110 able-bodied men were kept in idleness by the State at the taxpayers’ expense. Many of these taxpayers are actually worse oft financially than the recipients of the State’s bounty, and many farmers are to-day forced to pay their employment tax at the expense of their wives and children. The Minister of Railways proudly boasts that he now employs nearly 1700 extra men, with the result that we have the curious position of increased business meaning reduced profits and a record number of railway smashes —despite the greatly increased staff. The poor old taxpayer travels by rail in fear of his-life, and if he survives, is called upon to make good the huge deficiency in the interest account of the railway system. Taking a comprehensive view of the results of Labour’s activities during the past two years and a-half, one must agree with Mr Maxton, wellknown English Labour M.P., wlio some lime ago openly expressed the opinion that “Labour was not fit to rule.” As to the defence of this country, history is only repeating itseu. Labour Governments throughout the British Empire have, in the past, always proved inadequate insofar as defence is concerned. —I am, etc.. Taxpayer.