THE KAIPARA AND WAITEMATA ECHO With WHICH IS INCORPORTED "The Kaipara Advertiser & Waitemata Chronicle." Helensville, Thursday, March 4, 1915 PAYNE, THE PAINFUL

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 17 June 1915, Page 2

THE KAIPARA AND WAITEMATA ECHO With WHICH IS INCORPORTED "The Kaipara Advertiser & Waitemata Chronicle." Helensville, Thursday, March 4, 1915 PAYNE, THE PAINFUL

"THOSE NINE FARTHINGS " FACTS ARE STUBBORN THINGS If the majority of our readers are not in accord with Mr John Payne, Member of Parliament for Grey Lynn, in regard to his Socialistic principles, they must at least give him credit for being sincere in many of his ideas of both general and local government, and the M ray some things are mismanaged. In the matter of funds for war purposes aud the charities appertaining thereto, Mr Payne is right up against the squatter, and thinks they should pay New Zealand's cost of the war; though everybody, he argues, should pay according to his or her income. Then what better method is there in order to reach the pockets of the wealthy who are playing hidy-go-seek with their thousands and thousands and like to see their name loom large in print if they give a paltry five pound note, than by Government creating a war tax ? The rich then would be compelled to pay their share instead of, as now in hundreds of cases, holding tight their purse-strings. > There would also be no occasion for all the begging lists and benefits for the Belgians, the sick and wounded, clothing, etc., from now on; and even the little children whose patriotic feelings are sore with war affairs, would be spared their pennies, their lollies, and toys, though the pleasure in giving be great.

To get at the rich squatter then, the Government next session musi pass a War Tax, and there is no argument to our thinking, that can be adduced against it, nor any substitute. Mr Payne, who is a member of the Auckland Building Society,

makes out a case why they should not contribute to the Hospital Ship Fund, because in it are vested the savings of the working man, who has the payment for a home in view, and, therefore, there was not v nine farthings to spare. 5' He had never had any. dividend from the Building Society in question, but if there was any to get he would be pleased to hand it over to a Sister of the Poor. Herein we are socialistic enough to applaud Mr Payne in his ideas of "who should pay ?" The slackers require to be made face the music of rattling some of their gold into the war chest. Let us watch closely the Premier, who is said to play into the hands vof capital, and his methods during the coming session,