A WAR TAX.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 177, 31 March 1915, Page 3

A WAR TAX.

(BE ZAMIEL). A War Tax! Yes, certainly, let us have one, by all means. The New Zealand world and his wife are agreed that this country must brayely face the | music and “do its bit” in the way of i paying part of the cost of the colossal | war now about to begin in earnest. ! It is easy to a'.gree upon the general i principle, for the very good J easou ' that we are committed to large ex-1 pense, and the money to meet it simply must be found. It is when the: question of the incidence cf the tax | is reached that diversity of view be- ' pomes painfully apparent. I suppose it is “human desire on everybody’s part j to tax the other fellow or the other j fellow’s luxuries. Mr Harold Beau-1 champ, good Liberal though he be, l made a bad break when he suggested j a tax of one per cent, on all imports j and exports. It looked at first like an I

impest on the rich shippers and merchants, of whom he is one; but on examination it was seen that the tax would chiefly fall on the producers and consumers of this country—that is, on the masses, who are not rich. Much debate followed, and was only stopped when it was pointed out that the discussion was a political dodge—a device of the Reformers (who will not have a chance of imposing the war tax) to material for criticism of the Liberal Government’s proposals; when they are made. The scope of the discussion may be embalmed in verse, thus; On whom,, then, shall the war tax fall? “On everyone,” says Beauchamp; i “Tax food and clothing, beer and all, ; For that’s the way to reach ’em!” j What- Tax the farmer —tax the poor— j Th e workeV’s breakfast table? A better plan thqre' must be, sure; j So find it, if you’re able! On whom, then, should the war tax ! fall? Of course, upon the rich; These bleated ones must, one and all, i Be tuned to concert pitch. , Horse-racing ought to pay its share, 1 And every kind of sport; ; The “movie” shows, the theatres — All luxuries, in short! So put the tax on ferry fares, On billiards and on bowls, On football and on cricket, too; Tax golf at all its holes! Oh, put the tax on sweets.and “fags,” On all things, cheap cr dear; But, for the sacred love of Mike Don’t put it on the beer! There is, 1 may add, very iittle prospect of the tax being put upon the salaries of the statesmen who will finally decide how the wind shall be raised.