A TAX ON BACHELORS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 292, 13 July 1917, Page 1 (Supplement)

A TAX ON BACHELORS.

Bachelors must not be taxed, decided tho blinded toliders up at St. Dunstiin's when they argued this point the other day at one of their cheery debate?.

Their reasons for so deciding were various, but the verdict against taxation was carried by an overwhelming majority. An early speaker made the good point that sjuch a tax would never swell the revenue, '"for the payment of, say, 5s a week isn't going to force a man to marry when he knows quite well that a wife would cost him 15> ai week." The speaker was himself a new bridegroom, so it was becomingly gallant for him to add, "Besides, it would he an insult to the ladies. If they can't get married on their own natural charms a tax won't force a man to propose." Some of the speakers grew rather amusingly confused in their arguments. One married man, after boasting of his happiness and giving hi? opinion that the young man who hadn't tiie sense to seek matrimony on his own should be c icTve:! into the path of duty, added with a fine illogicality, "If he's made to pay heavy enough, I think he deserves to be s, bachelor!"

One clear thinker was exercised a' out the use to which the t ix money should he put. Tus tend of eoing to swell the revenue he thought it ought to he given to the married men with the most children. This was rltogether too much for the next speaker, a man who had lteen in the trenches fighting and "come hack all right"—the hlind hero's pwn way of putting it. He meint. he said, to marry when he wished end not before. "Anyhow, meantime," he added, witii much determination. "I don't we keeping otliyr folk's ■•hildren!"