THE LABOUR PARTY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23887, 15 August 1939, Page 5

THE LABOUR PARTY

TO THE EDITOR Sir,—Please allow me space to reply to the letter by "Bungling Bill." I am glad he gave that name to himself, as it is most apDropriate. New Zealand, being a democracy, is ruled by its people. If the present Government does not do the wjll of the people it will go out at the next election. As for youths and girls being taxed, without option, well, they are receiving wages sufficient to pay those taxes, and more, over what they would have been receiving had the National Party been in power. As for no other Government imposine taxation on them. I read this week that 40 years ago Mr Seddon introduced a BiL to prevent boys and girls being employed in factories without payment "f wages, and that it was opposed bv th«? Opposition on grounds that employers would/then demand a premium. The Bill was passed. I hope that "Bungling Bill" will understand exactly what "without payment of wages'" means The Opposition in those days must have been of the same faction as the present Opposition. As for taxation and the farmers. 1 venture to suggest that if the farmers paid the social security tax, as the worker does, on every £1 of his earnings, there would be no need for the addition of 4d to the petrol tax but the average farmer does not pay on his living If a working man spends, sav £36. on improving his home he has already paid 36s on that amount before he can "begin the work. The' farmer puts on the improvements and deduct* f hem for expenses makins his social security contributions the smaller bv so doing Hoping that "Bungling Bill" mav have sons and daughters who are working and getting wages.—l am. etc.. Mother. Balclutha. August 11.