TAXING THRIFT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 14, 11 October 1919, Page 8

TAXING THRIFT

Sir,—l has lately been very common to hear people in authority urging the encouragement of thrift, and the other day some of our legislators were descanting upon the subject Now, Sir, I think tlint every man of common sense will agree that thriftlessnoss is the cause of most of the poverty in our cities. The gentlemen who inhke our laws sometimes give us a very good exhibition of the difference betweeii\ theory and practice in this matter. Whilo 011 the 0110 hand we have them urging thrift as a practical necessity, on the other they dwell upon the necessity of heavily toxin? wliat Jlicy are pleased to term, unearned incomes. For instance, when a man has put in fort)' years in the service of t.he Government or one of the banks, etc., and ba.s perhaps by self-denial managed to accumulate a small additional incomo for his declining years, he is to pay ah extra tax for the benefit of those who have made no such effort, or should he leave it to his widow she is to be penalised. Of course, •' members of the Labour Party think that all capital should he done away with, but other hon. members with Socialistic leaniiigs seem to havo an idea that to penalise thrift is'to encourage it. There is ono consolation, viz., that members of Parliament who draw an "honoratium will doubtless come under tlie extra taxation. I. think the man who draws his income from a few investments maybe said to earn it ciuite as much as one who gets it by the" volubility of his. utterances.1 am, etc.. INTERESTED.