HIS INCOME TAX

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 6 January 1921, Page 4

HIS INCOME TAX

The wail of a bank-manager : He banged at the private door after closing time, and clonked with heavj' mud caked boots into my office, where he tipped out a mass of crumpled papers from a bag. "Me year's doin's boss —make up me inkim tax," he said. I knew the type, although I was a new man to that branch—the species of which, though rolling in money, yet expects its " banker " to attend gratis, to all returns, and incidentally prepare papers relating to land purchase or sale and deals of all descrip^ tion, despite there being around, a dozen solicitors, agents, etc., living b}' this work in the town. I rescued my papers from among the debris, and waded in, while he made an occasional asinine suggestion to cheat the Government. After two hours, a private signal warned me of tea over^ready and a desperate housewife. Glancing up from the muddle, I suggested an hour's spell to allow him to attend to any business in the town. " Spose I take a bite wi' yer," he said. Nothing else for it, "ac his was our biggest account. He fed like a hog, and genially remarked that there was no hurry when I pro posed an adjournment to the muddle. Finally I got at it again, while he picked food out of his teeth and spat the masticated stuff on the linoleum. At 10 p.m. the job was noarlv finished wlioi •' D dif I aint fergot,,'' and out came a crumpled heap of papors from his breeches' pocket, which reduced his tax ss, but neces~ siiated a fresh return. When all was completed, he borrowed an envelope and decided that 1 had better post it, though he passed the postoflico. And as I ruminated over the fact that I must work six months to make the amount of his tax, he sail), "Twelve o'clock—yor amt as slick as the bloke wot had the bank before yer! "- —Bulletin.