WILL SOMEONE EXPLAIN?

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1240, 23 September 1911, Page 14

WILL SOMEONE EXPLAIN?

Sir,—l can seo the millennium approaching in New Zealand. . Sir Joseph informs us that all our borrowed millions aro reproductive, except a small sum of .£25,000,000. At 4 per cent. <£1,000,000 per annum will pay interest on that amount. What on earth does ho want ,£3,000,000 from Customs, anotheT million or two from land and income- tax, stamps, ct'c., for? Why should I pay a penny on my cheques and a penny on my receipts for amounts over £2? l\o service is rendered by the State for those exactions. 1 may bo told I can send a letter for a penny or a telegram for sixpence, but I don't want to send a telegram which will cost the country threepence extra (I believo this is about the deficiency in telegrams). But to return to our millions, Mr. Editor. If i£25,000,000 is all our real debt why should a poor woman like myself havo to pay so much through the Customs foi Billy and Jolimiie and Joannie's boots and stockings, fal-dc-rais, etc.? If a million only is needed for interest, why collect live or six? Is it to support the gallant soldier, and I supposo the free education? There is not much "free" about tho education if it costs millions or j[a part of a million to maintain, anil who

pays it? lias tho Government a private mine that they can givo unlimited doles? I only seek for information. Mr. Fowlds's new evangel is not_ a good one, I am afraid". I understand it is to tax only land and givo cheap railway fares and freights. Now, what is cheap? I think tho actual cost is chcap. # Anything elso must bo productive of ill to someone—it may be the' employing too many people in unproductive service, some of whom might be growing corn or milking cows, and butter might cost less than Is. sd. per lb. But if I said to Sir Joseph: "Bother your cheap telegrams, telephones, wireless, and others, your reductions of Suez Canal.rates, and so on; they do not concern mo; give me the chance of purchasing more real produco for my pound," what reply should I receive ? I am a consumer, one of the great mass, not a shopkeeper or merchant. . Consider, Mr. Editor, and answer my quandary. • Tho single tax was tried in. France, and was one cause of the Reign Of Terror, that and injudicious Free-trade. Would Mr. Fowlds and Mr. Withy, read history. There are very few fads now before tne public that have not leen already tried. Another puzzle to me, a woman voter, is this: I read in your paper that, Sir Joseph has one million and a half to tho credit of a sinking fund. I also read that he is going to borrow one million and a half this year. Why not use the amount in sinking fund, and not borrow, as I do when I have.a pound or two in, tho Savings Bank? I do not borrow from my friend the money-lender until I havo exhausted tho savings. I confess to a complete ignorance of high finance.—l .am, etc., PUZZLED.