HEAVY "LIBERAL” TAXATION.

West Coast Times, 26 June 1912, Page 1

HEAVY "LIBERAL” TAXATION.

THE ETEREAL PAY, PAY, PAY

BURDENS OF A NEW ZEALAND]®. FLOW THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE. ;f E« PEES 3 ASSOCIATION.—COFYEIcnT.] AUCKLAND, June 20. People do not renli.se the great amount paid by the working, man of New Zealand in indirect taxes. An interesting statement in regard to these ■amounts was given by Air. Arthur Withy, a witness who came before the Cost of Living Commission to-day. Zealand gman,” “Th NowowS rinG “ 'The New Zealanl working man,” said the witness, “lives in a homo built of timber taxci! 2s to us per 100 super foot, doors taxed 20 per cent., cement taxed 2s per cwt., tanks taxed 2s Gd per 100 gallons, lead piping taxed 3.s Gd per 100 cwt., paints taxed 2s Gd to 5s per cwt., varnish taxed 2s per gallon, and roofed with corrugated iron taxed 2s per cwt. “ He jumps out of bed taxed 25 per eont., blankets taxed 20 per cent., sheets taxed 20 per cent., nightshirt taxed 20 per rent.

“ Ho washes in a basin taxed 20 per cent., with soap taxed 25, and dries himself on a towel' taxed 25 per cent; uses a tooth brush taxed 25 per cent., brushes his hair with a brush taxed 25 per cent., hammers on a heel plate taxed 22.V per cent., and puts in a new pair of braces taxed 221 per cent.

“ He seats himself in a chair taxed 25 per cent,, at a table taxed 25 per cent., with his feet .on a rug taxed 20 per cent., resting on a linoleum taxed 20 per cent, drinks, say, coffee, or cocoa, taxed Gd per lb., out of a cup taxed 20 per cent and eats bacon taxel at 2d lb, potatoes taxed at ,-tl per ton, off a plain taxed 20 per cent., cats bread made of Mower taxed £1 per ton, and butter taxed 2:[d per lb, jam 21 a lb, honey 2d a 11). “ Breakfast finished, ho goes to the mantel, taxed 25 per cent, takes down the pipe taxed 20 per cent, fills it with tobacco taxed 2s to ,‘is Gd per ]h, and lights it with matches taxed 2s pel gross of boxes.

“He kisses his wife, taxed on pretty well everything she wears, From the shoos on her Feet to the comb in her hail, and the hahy in clothes taxed 25 per cent, sitting in a cradle taxed 2d per cent, playing with a rattle taxed 20 per cent. “ Ho puts on his hat taxed 25 per cent., and if it is fine jumps upon his hieycle, taxed 20 pm- cent; recommends his wife to put on her hat, taxed 25 per cent., and hoots taxed 221 per cent, and takes the hahy out for an airing in a bonnet taxed 25 per cent and pram taxed 20 per cent. . “ If it is very wet, he puts on his leggings, taxed 22.1 per emit., coat taxed 25 per rent, and takes his umbrella taxed 20 per cent ,while Ids careful spouse gives him a dose of eceucalyptus oil taxed 20 per cent. “Taxes hit him right and left, ail day, and work him without knowing the cause of tiio worry. He gets homo tired out, puts on slippers taxed 22v- per cent, and after much taxed tea ho settles down in a chair taxed 25 pur cent., and by the light of the eandie taxed Id or lid per II) proceeds to write with ink taxed 2s a gallon, using a pen taxed 20 per cent., on paper taxed 20 per cent., a, letter to the press asking why on earth tho cost of living is so high ! ”