The Passing Show.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18874, 18 February 1933, Page 11 (Supplement)

The Passing Show.

(By “Free

THE SALES TAX and the revised oustoms duties have been among the chief topics of conversation during the week-end and In the little coteries formed for the •convenient (discussion of these vital subjects there was evident a disposition to send Messrs Coates and Forbes to the right about. To a certain extent one can sympathise with the working man, who, recovering from the bombshell of exchange, views with alarm the prospect of paying more for necessary commodities, and he can understand how easily those with no previous pretensions in the realm of finance become prone to lay down the law. Are these people justified, however, in assuming as they seem to do that our parliamentary leaders are rogues anxious only to further their own interests and to muddle the affairs of their country? Infallible our leading legislators may not be, but surely they might be given oredlt for sincerity, and before making such wholesale condemnations and such sweeping assertions their oritlcs might .take a peep at the glgantio task confronting a Government faced with an enormous deficit at a time of unprecedented crisis, and then oalmly and collectedly ask whether they or the parties they champion could really do any better. The Government claims to have given matters serious consideration, and admits the measures are not Ideal but merely the best under tho olrcu-mstances. Therefore, may we repeat that the wisest policy for the rank and file is to take a few breaths and swallow the bitter pill—ln other words to pay up and look pleasant? a * * « Too much stress is laid on the exaggerated idea that the proposals will have the effect of “bleeding the poor.” As a result of additional taxation imposts distinct from the sales tax sugar is the Only staple article affected by the change, and the sales tax may not prove so Inequitable as expected, for although all classes will be taxed at the same ratio, the rloh man’s larger turnover will in most cases ensure his bearing a fair share of the burden. An example of the one-sldedness of the opposition’s views is to be found in Mr H. E. Holland’s sum-ming-up of the “astounding proposals,” wherein he oontends that there should be a reduction instead of an Increase on tobacco produced in New Zealand. The fact that the article can be produoed locally in this case is not necessarily reason for exemption from taxation in the case of a luxury like tobacoo. One peed not necessarily be a “wowser” to be of opinion that cigarettes also might have been Included in the lists of taxable goods, for most people will agree that far too many shillings go up in smoke every week and the offenders are often those who can least afford this unnecessary extravagance. Mr Holland may be fond of ids pipe, but his arguments upon this question are a little unsound and 111-becoming anyone pushing for Government honours. «■**>» “Where are the public men of Hamilton?” asks His Lordship the Bishop of Waikato, deploring the fact that the leaders of the town do not seek knowledge in the church. Well, where aro they? Sunday morning probably finds a few mowing their lawns, in the afternoon one might have to seek for them on the tennis courts or the golf course, and in the evening when they should bo in their pews listening .attentively to the Bishop they are often turning on the radio. Of course one must not overlook the possibility that some may attend church even

Comment and Criticism.

Lanoe.")

If they do not attend The Church. However, on this oocasion His Lordship should not b« made a target for orltioism. He is too broadminded to gauge a man’s religion altogethor by church-attendance and he is surely sufficiently tolerant to realise that those oocupied at sedentary work all the week like to spend a few of their Sunday hour* out-of-doors. There is no doubt that there is too much laxity regarding Sabbath observance. "When an authority like Professor Einstein declares that the present pace of life is too fast for the man-in-the-street even to catch the newspaper- headlines everybody should sit up and take notice. The Professor states that whereas a few years ago people had time to sit down and think now no one is in a position to do so. Church-going is an aid to meditation that Is not to be despised. With a great many people Sunday differs so little from the other days of the week that one is reminded of the story of Sandy MaoTavish who was making a great noise hammering nails when his wife said: “Ye -shouldna hammer on the Sawbath, Sandy. Ye should use screws I" * * • * Within the next few months an improvement in economic conditions may be expected, for no\v that Rotarians have commenced to study w'orld affairs their inflUr. ence cannot but be manifest In a speedy recovery from the maladies that torture th# universe. Words s-poken In jest often, prove prophetic, so we need not be surprised if Rotary should become -heard in no uncertain tones at Lausanne and Geneva. An organisation with such world-wide ramifications and such high ideals can scarcely be expected to keep silent when there aro wrongs to be righted and principles to be maintained. By doing their best individually and c-ollectively to live up to their mo-tto, “Servioe before self," Rotarians have rendered valuable service in raising the standard of business ethics besides, through various sooial activities, making a contribution towards modern culture. The suggestion on the part of this estimable body to attempt justification -of their existence in a wider sphere is one that will receive the commendation of all. 3*• * V A Dominion Magistrate the other day administered a sharp rebuke to a lawyer who applied for a judgment summons against A debtor who was dependent upon charitablo aid for daily necessities. When the defendant had disclosed the circumstances, counsel immediately said he would withdraw' tha application, w'hich he wmuld not have filed had he been awnre of the defendant’s position. The Magistrate pointed out that In judgment summons cases the onus Is on the plaintiff to show that the debtor Is In a position to defray but refrains. It therefore was the duty of counsel to ascertain the position before bringing the application into court. To do otherwise was to waste the time of the court to no purpose, and if any similar cases came before him he w'ould make the applicants pay all costs. ‘‘Free Lance’ ’thinks the magistrate took the right course. The law regarding judgment summonses should be well known to the bar, and (hey must be aware that no court will make an order “for committal for contempt” (for that is what a judgment summons implies) unless it is fully satisfied that payment is being maliciously withheld. “Free Lance” humbly suggests that a magistrate should be empowered In such cases to order counsel to pay the penalty out of his own pocket—and not out of that of his unfortunate client.