PAY, PAY, PAY !

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1472, 21 June 1912, Page 7

PAY, PAY, PAY !

HOW WE ARE TAXED

AN INTERESTING STATEMENT.

IBy Telesraph-Press association.; Auckland, June 20. People ilo not fealise Ihe great amount paid by the working man of New Zealand in indu-est tax,.*. .\n interesting slatymeat in regard to (lie- amount wa< given by Mr. Arthur Witliv, a wiliiesi who came before the Cost of' Living Com mission to-day.

.the Xew Zealand working man," -aid lh> witness "Jives i u a I, OIIJI . |,„i!t „ f timber (axed 2*. to -Is. por mo .superficial cot, doors taxed -JO per cent., ccn-eiil axed 2s. per cv,t., tank* taxed 2s. (id. per 100 gallons, lead piping f-, x ,,,[ ; !s . U(1 . }„.., ewt., paints taxed 2s. Gd. to ss. per cwt. varnish iaxod 2s. per gallon, anil roofn'l \iitli corrugated iron taxed p. per civ( He lumps out of a bed taxed 2.") per cent blankets taxed 20 por cent., sheets taxed 20 per cent., nightshirt taxed 20 per cent He washes in a bji«in (axed 20 per cent with soap taxed 25 per cent., and ilrici himself on a towel taxed 25 per cent. He uses a toothbrush taxed 25 per cent., brushes his hair with a brush raved 2o per cent., and surveys the general effect in a mirror taxed 25 per cent. !Next he puts on underclothing taxed 2o per cent., a shirt taxed 20 per cent., collar and tie taxed 20 per cent., socks taxed 25 per cent., and braces taxed "U per cent. Ho blacks his boots taxed 22! per cent, with blacking taxed 20 per cent." hammers on a heel-plate taxed 22! per cent and puts in a new pair of "laces taxed 22.J per cent. "Ho seats himself in a chair taxed 25 per cent, at a table taxed 25 per cent., with his feet on a rug taxed 20 pe-r cent., resting on a linoleum taxed 20 per cent He drinks, say, coffee or cocoa taxed .'id. per lb. out of a cup taxed 20 por cent., and eats ha-jiu taxed 2d. a lb. and potatoes taxed XI per ton, off a plate taxed 20 per cent. Ho eats bread made of (lour taxed XI per ton, and butter faxed SJd. per lb., jam taxed 2d. a lb., honev taxed 2d. a lb.

"Breakfast finished, he goes to the mantel, taxed 25 per cent., takes down his pipe taxed 20 per cent., fills it with tobacco taxed 2s. to as. Bd. per lb., and lights it with matches taxed 2s. per gross of boxes.

"He kisses his wife, taxed on prettv well everything she wears from (lie shoe's on her feet to the comb in her hair, and the baby in clothes (axed 25 per cent, sitting in a cradle taxed 25 per cent., playing with a rattle taxed 20 per cent. lie puts on his hat taxed 25 pet- cent., and if it is .fine, jumps upon his bicycle taxed 20 per cent., recommends his wife lo put on her hat taxed 25 per cent., coat taxed 25 per cent., and boots taxed 221 per cent., and take the baby out for an airing in a bonnet, taxed 25 per cent., clonk taxed 25 per cent, and pram taxed 20, per cent.

"if it is very wot, however, he puis on his leggings taxed 22.V per cent., coat (axed 25 per cent., anil takes his umbrella taxed 20 per cent., while his careful spouse gives him a dose of eucalyptus oil faxed 20 per cent. "Taxes hit him right and left all (lav, and worry him without him knowing tiio cause of worry, fie gets,homo tired out, puts on slippers taxed 221 per cent., and after much taxed tea lie .-eltics down in a. chair taxed 25 per cent., ami, by (ho light of a candlo taxed Id. or Mil. per lb., proceeds to write—with ink taxed 2s. a gallon, using a pen taxed 20 per cent, on.paper taxed 20 per cent.—a letter to the press asking why on earth the cost of living is so high.'