The Taxing of Bachelors.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue XVI, 17 October 1903, Page 63

The Taxing of Bachelors.

In France legislators are now’ occupying themselves with matrimonial questions, and if a bill now before the Uppei House becomes law, both bachelors and spinsters of thirty years of age and upwards will be subjected to additional taxation. In Darmstadt, Ibe lieve, bachelors have long since been taxed, but the Argentine Republic goes further in its desire to promote matrimony. In this last somewhat unsettled State, a stringent law against bachelorhood has been in force for some years. After twenty a man has to pay ill. a month to remain single, but after thirty his special tax is doubled till thirty-five, when it is reduced. A writer in "Woman,” commenting on the above, seems to think it is the bounden duty of every one to get married for the good of the State—somewhat overlooking the fact of the enormous majority of women over men in these islands —and ends up.

"Why should not a fair share of the cost of maintaining and developing this rich mine of our natural wealth, our children, be imposed upon those selfish individuals—both men and women -who remain unmarried from choice, and from a simple desire to escape the obligations that matrimony entails?”