CORRESPONDENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 83, 5 October 1938, Page 12

CORRESPONDENCE

TAXATION OF WOMEN '

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—l was surprised to read in your paper for the second time a misrepresentation by Mr. H. E. Combs (Labour candidate) of the National Party's manifesto in regard to taxation of women. Fortunately a copy of the manifesto, was delivered to me yesterday and I read it to compare what it says with your report of Mr. Combs's statement, The manifesto of the National Party says:—

"We will exempt from unemployment taxation: Wages and salaries of all women; 'other income' of women provided it does not exceed £250; pensioners; relief workers and sustenance men; persons under 20. years of age; domestic workers."

Mr. Combs is reported • as having said:—"That the Nationalist manifesto drew a line between women with private means up to £5 a week and women with an ( income from salary or wages to the same amount. That the Nationalists proposed to exempt the first group from paying towards social security benefits, but specifically excluded wage and salary-earning women from such exemptions."

I think the distinction which Mr. Combs draws exists only in his own imagination. The fact that women Workers are at last to have the unjust wages tax removed is as plain as plain can be to me. I think in fairness to the National Party that Mr. Combs should correct this wrong impression which he has been endeavouring to create in the minds of women electors. I am, etc.,

A WOMAN WAGE-EARNER.