Dear Sir,

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 55, 27 November 1946, Page 4

Dear Sir,

Letters to the Editor must be clearly written on one side of the paper only and where a nom-de-plume is used the name of "the writer must be included for reference purposes. The Editor reserves the right to abridge, amend or withhold any letter or letters.

Sir, —In spite of the well-known dictum to the contrary, politics succeeds in fooling the people all the time, including the politicians. Political parties vociferously compete in promises of all-round benefits. There is another side to this production of benefits. Government has become a colossal consumer, with a terrific appetite. Taxation greatly exceeds the total incomes of all New Zealanders ten years’ ago. Add many millions from licenses, fees, commissions, rents, rates, millions of National Savings (now declared as essential in peace as in war), increases in Post Office Bank deposits, use of Reserve Bank funds, earthquake and broadcasting millions, tens of millions belonging to farmers, other derelict millions—apart altogether from ordinary Post Office, Railways and other trading ear;nings—(rendered less by hosts of Government gifts to itself). Yet Government is not kind to other consumers; in fact its chief injury to citizens is' misdirection of the nation’s efforts so as to increase costs. Terrific penalties protect poor and dear local goods against cheaper goods exchangeable for our, exports. Prices of permitted imports are fixed extortionately high. Largely this misdirection of effort is to correct vote-catching maldistribution of money. Partly high prices are fixed to mop up money surplus to consumers’ goods, partly to swell' receipts frpm sales, company, income and other taxes, partly to “make work.” Cheapness, has become abhorrent. The greatest enemy of the common man, the most powerful opponent of an improved standard of living, is now—the State. *

Yours etc., A. E. ROBINSON,