A WAR TAX.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 236, 26 June 1915, Page 4

A WAR TAX.

(To the Editor). ' 1 Sir, —Will you allow me space to ] briefly reply to Mr-. Loughnau’s letter. J In the first place, anyone who read Mr. i J. Smith’s letter must conclude that i the war tax is the only satisfactory solution to the problem of raising sufficient money to 'carry on the war-. Mr. Lough nan draws a very poor analogy, viz,, conscription. Now, Sir, it is obvious that the major part of the responsibility of carrying on the war has fallen on the working class. We have only to look tif the lists of the wounded, and also the list of recruits coining forward, and find that fully 9b per cent, are of the working class. Then, when it comes to finding the money, who pays? The worker. I know many people who 'since the outbreak of hostilities have given freely, and really very much more than they could afford. If we ha'd the war tax, everyone would pay x ‘ pro rata ’ ’ on their income, and this would make the shirker pay. Mr. Loughnari’s assertion, that sufficient money can be raised voluntarily, can be discounted altogether. Did not Mr. Jorgensen offer £IOO on condition that nine others gave like amounts, and after about three weeks, we find oar Mayor calling on Mr. Jorgensen, and informing him that he had failed to get the required number of subscribers. 'No, the war tax is the only solution. 'Not being desirous of being included in Mr. Loughnan’s novelties, I again ;sign myself TAIHAPEITE.