OUT WITH THEM!

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1216, 26 August 1911, Page 10

OUT WITH THEM!

Sir,—This is the only country in tho Empire in which taxes are levied on bread and potatoes. This "Liberal-Lab-our" Government continued these shameful taxes when thousands of men were workless. Last session Ministers were assured, of a majority of five if they voted for Mr. Hogg's Abolition of Flour Duty Hill. Th-:y considered the majority too Small, and voted against the Bill. On a no-confidence motion they would stick in office with a majority of one; but when it is a question of elieap bread for starving people they vote for dear bread rather than accept a majority of five. Therefore, I Eny, out with them! For nearly 20 years this "Liberal-Lab-our" Government has, through tho Customs tariff levied an income tax ranging from 3s. Cd. to 7s. in the pound on small farmers and wago earners. Tho tariff on bare necessaries does not ccst tho rich ■man with' an income of .£10,(100 a year moro than one farthing in the pound. "Liberal-Labour" Government? It is tho most Tory Government in the world. Out with it!

Tho principle of this Government is, according to Ministers, "to help those who help themselves." They have a curious way of giving effect to this principle. They enable upwards of 120,000 landholders to escape tho land tax, while tho poorest cultivators of tho soil pay a tax on their hard earnings of from 3s. Gd. to 7s. in tho pound. By expenditure of public money they have trebled tho incomes of many, if not most, landholders, while tho poor labourer's present condition is worse than his first. They keep the majority of the people landless, to be-exploited by land speculators. "Liberal-Labour" Government? It is tho rankest imposture on earth.. Out with it! Rather than be afflicted with such a Government it would be much better to have a great squatter Ministry. Wc would then have a real, instead of a sham, Liberal party. The "Official Yea- Book" dees not give us any detailed account of the expenditure of the huge revenue raised every venr from so few people. Many pages arc 'devoted to the land districts, although thero is no land available except moun-tain-tops and swamps. But I am unablo to find moro than half a 'page on expenditure in Wio issue for 1009. There are no details. We are told that Ministers' salaries and allowances amounted to ,£10,582, but every sensible voter wants to know the amount of the salary and allowances in each case—the cost of every trip,'-etc. "Department of Agriculture, This 'is all the information wo get. At least three times too much is expended upon that Department. "Defence (including naval), .£233,975." And yet we are really defenceless'. 'Electoral, £G&,151. Surelv this is far too much money to expend "yearly .on preparation of the voters lists. "Labour Department, ,£30,0,1. Under a just order of things, wo would not need a Labour Department. But even as things now are tho Department should not cost so much. "Tourist Department, ,£50,771." "Another 'great waste of public money. "Miscellaneous expenditure, .£211,003." A very largo sum, and wo are in the dark as to where it has gone. "Transferred to Public Works Fund, .£800,000." Most useful fund! It works, wonders at "enoral elections. "Territorial expenditure, .£351,330." I presume (his means "ifts of public money to landholders ft) dis"or"e portions of the national e?ta,e. "Mental hospitals, A large sum, but considering the kind of Government we have, what clsa can .you expect.—l am, etc., EDWABD T. EVANS. August 23, 1911.