TAXING BACHELORS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2226, 25 June 1908, Page 1

TAXING BACHELORS.

[To tub Editor.] iSir, —Your correspondent “-Married .Malt ' .is like many other people who do not give their minds much exercise on political questions, and evidently labors under the impression that because bachelors a Co not made to pay a direct tax, they escape contributing a fair proportion to the revenue ot the country. 4 remember that during the recent municipal elections a mayoral candidate was asked the question, “Are you in favor of :putting a tax on bachelors?’’ and innocently repliod that lie was. It never occurred to him to tell his questioner that bachelors are taxed in New Zealand and in every country that raises revenue through tile customs, (riven equal earning power and equal spending facilities the single man contributes far more to the revenue of the Country through taxation than a man who has to koep- a family. To spend liis weekly earnings a singlo man will, perhaps, buy imported boxes of chocolates lob his young lady, and in doing so pays a lax of 20 per cent, smoke cigarettes and pay a. tax of 17s (kl por 10000 and 7s per lb on cigars; for no young man would go without a cigar now and again. He will havo -more money to spend on whisky, taxed at 10s per gallon, and wine at 0s per gallon, lie will, of course, make presents of jewellery, and 20 per cent of the cost will go to the Treasury. iHis best imported boots ire dutiable at Is (id per pair and an ad valorem tax of 15 per cent. Tobacco pipes, cigarette holders and such personal equipment which he must possess carry a 20 per cent duty, and his bicycle also from 20 to 33 per cent. Even after ho has paid for all these luxuries he will perhaps he inclined to make an occasional investment- on the totalisator, and will pay Gd out of every £ so spent to the Treasury, for the privilege. His board will run him into 2.5 s to 30s peri week, and though his name will not figure on the ratepayers’ roll, he has to contribute, through His board money to Jiis landlady’s rates and taxes. Charitable Aid rates, and harbor board rates. If lie boards at ail hotel he will have to pay a- fair price for tho extra conveniences and so contribute a mite t 0 the liquor license fee of the establishment. When his holidays come around he will feel like taking a trip, and, as tho Prime Minister confident tly declares that our railways arc revenue earning, lie will again contribute something- towards the cost of running the country when ho buys a railway ticket. (Likewise when he books'a passage on the steamer lie pays his quota for the -harbor dues of the vessel, and for all these taxes upon the luxuries of life he gets what in return? Nothing but the right to live and cast a vote .at the general elections. A bichelor can ortly consume a certain quantity of the necessities of life, and after these aro paid for, must spend the balance of his money (or hoard it) on what are termed luxuries, and all the luxuries of life in this country are heavily taxed; and

by purchasing them the balance is taxed. Thou take the married man with a family, the man who is usually declared to hoar tlio burdons of the country,—give him equal oarning power—•with tho bachelor, and see where his’money goes. iHo lias to keep himself, wife and family on the suno income that the single man has to support himself alone. The married man will consequently need to ' provide more of tho necessaries of life, and must, therefore, havo less to spend upon the highly taxed luxuries. Almonds, anchovies, salt, rice, tea, cotton piece goods, children’s hoots and shoes, and a. long list of other articles of necessity are allowed to land free of 'customs duty, and ate not taxed in any way. lie will need to purchase more flour, meat, butter, and vegetables,—all of which are produced within the Dominion and are not fixed, as they do not pass through tlie customs. Tho family man will buy cheaper boots, fewer imported hats, -imported tweeds, fancy chocolates and costly jowellory, a'lid so will escape taxation on these articles. Ho will havo to buy furniture, but while there is a duty upon 'imported furniture, nearly all tho furnishings of his house, 4 except the- piano, will be mule ur-fhc country and no duty or taxes of any sort will be collected upon; them. After paying for all these things he will havo less money to tempt him to gamble at tlie races, and the totalisator should not reap a very large profit from hie' investments. He will pay municipal, charitable aid, harbor board, and other ratp.-3 in his own name and so looks upon them as a hardship; but lie will have his own home, which is his castle, to hiniselfj while tlie singleman often has only one room. He gets I'roo education for his children, who" should lirovidc for him in liis old age, and lie gets tlie franchise for the municipal and harbor hoard elections, which is certainly worth something. Perhaps lie does not enjoy so many holiday trips, or so many highly-pri-ced luxuries as his single brother, but for the loss of theso lie is fully compensated' by being relieved of a certain amount of taxation, having a home of his own. and the comforts of a. wile and family.—l am. etc.. “SINGLE 'MAN.”