Tax! Tax! Tax!

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 70, 12 July 1912, Page 3

Tax! Tax! Tax!

BIBS, BONNETS, BOOTLACES.

FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE

An interesting statement in regard to working-chiss taxation was given by Mr. Arthur Withy, a witness who came boforo the Cost of Living ' Commission at Auckland.

"The Now Zealand working-man," said the witness, "lives in a houso built of timber taxed 2s. to 4s. per 100 super feet, doors taxed 20 per cent., cement taxed 2s. per cwt., tanks taxed 2s. 6d. per 100 gallons, lead piping taxed 3s. 6d. per cwt., paints taxed 2s. 6d. to ss. per cwt., varnish taxed 2s. per gallon, and roofed with corrugated iron taxed 2s. per cwt.

"He jumps out of a bed taxed 25 per cent., blankets taxed 20 per cent., sheets taxed 20 per cont., nightshirt taxed 20 per cent,

"He washes in a basin taxed 20 per cent., with soap toxed 25 per cent., and dries himself on a towel taxed-25 per cent.; uses a toothbrush taxed 25 per cent., brushes his hair with a brush taxed 25 per cent., and surveys the general effect in a mirror tased 25 per cent.

"Next he put* on underclothing taxed 25 per cent., a shirt taxed 20 per cent., collar and tio taxed 20 per cent., sooks taxed 25 per cent, and braces taxed 20 per cent. "Ho blacks his boots, taxed 22$ per cent., with blacking taxed 20 per cent., hammers on a heelplate taxod 22i per cent., and puts in a now pair of lace 3 taxed 22i per cent.

"Ho seats himself in a chair taxed 25 per cent., at a table taxed 25 per cent., with his fo-t on a rug taxed 20 per cent., resting on a linoleum taxod 20 per cent.; drinks, say, coffee or cocoa, taxed 3d. per lb., out of a cup taxed 20 per cent., and oat 3 bacon taxed 2d. a lb., potatoes taxed £1 per ton, off a plate taxed 20 per cent.; eats bread made of flour taxed £1 per ton, and butter taxod 2Jd. per lb., jam taxed 2d. a lb., honey taxod 2d. a lb.

"Breakfast finished, ho goes to tho mantel, taxed 25 per cent., takes down his pipe, taxed 20 per cent,, fills it with tobacco taxed 2s. to 3s, 6d. per lb., and lights it with matches taxed 2s. per gross of boxes. "Ho kisses his wife, taxed on pretty well everything sho wears, from tho shoos on her feet to tho comb in her hair, and the baby in clothes taxed 25 per cent., sitting in a cradlo taxed 25 per cent., playing with a rattle taxed 20 per cont

"Ho puts on his hat, taxed 25 per cent., and if it is fine jumps upon his bicycle, taxed 20 per cent-; recommends his wife to put on her hat, taxed 25 per cent., coat, taxod 25 per cent., and boots taxed 22} per cent., and take tho baby out for an airing in a bonnet taxod 25 per cent., cloak taxed 25 per cent., and pram taxed 20 per cent.

"If it is very wet, however, lie puts on his leggings, taxed 22J- per cent., coat taxod 25 per cent., and takes his umbrella taxed 20 per cent., while his careful spouse gives him a dose of eucalyptus oil taxed 20 per cent

"Taxes hit him right and left all day, and worry him without him knowing tho causo of his worry. Ho gets homo tired out, puts on slippors taxed 22} per cent., and aftor much-taxed tea ho settles down in a chair taxed 25 per cent., and by the light of a candle taxed Id. or ljd. per lb., proceeds to write with ink taxed 2s. a gallon, using a. pen taxed 20 per cent., on paper taxed 20 per oent., a letter to tho press asking why on earth tho xisfc of living is so high!"