PAY, PAY, PAY!

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 307, 24 June 1912, Page 8

PAY, PAY, PAY!

HOW WE ARE TAXED. J AX INTERESTING. STATE.MEN x. Auckland, June 20. People do not realise the great amount paid by the working man of New Zea-; land in indirect taxes. An interesting j statement in regard to these amounts ! was given by Mr. Arthur Withy, a witness who came beFore the Cost of Living Commission to-day. "The New Zealand working man," said the witness, "lives in a house built of I timber taxed 2s to 4s per 100 superficial 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 5s per cwt., varnish taxed 2s per gallon, and. roofed with corrugated iron taxed 2s per cwt. Fie jumps out of a bed taxed 25 per cent., blankets taxed 20 per cent,, sheets taxed . 20 per cent., nightshirt taxed 20 per cent. I He washes in a basin taxed 20 per cent,, I with soap taxed 25 per cent., and dries,! himself on a towel taxed 25 per cent., j brushes 'his hair with a brush taxed 25! per cent., and surveys the general effect in a mirror taxed 25 per cent. "Next he puts on underclothing taxed j 25 per cent., a shirt taxed 20 per cent., collar and tie taxed 20 per cent., socks taxed 25 per cent., and 'braces taxed 20 per cent. He blanks his boots taxed 22% per cent, with blacking taxed 20 per cent., hammers on a heel-plate taxed 22y a per cent., and puts in a new pair of laces taxed 22% per cent "He seats himself in a chair taxed 25 per cent, at a table taxed 25 per cent., with his feet on a rug taxed 20 per cent., resting on a linoleum taxed 20 per cent. He drinks, say, coffee or cocoa taxed 3d per lb out of a cup taxed 20 per cent., and eats bacon taxed 2d a lb and potatoes taxed £1 per ton, off a plate taxed §0 per cent. He eats bread made of flour taxed £1 per ton, and butter taxed 2%d per lb, jam taxed 2d a lb, honey ,taxed 2d a lb. "Breakfast finished, he goes to the mantel, taxed 25 per cent., takes down liis 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.

. "He kisses his wife, taxed on pretty well everything she wears, from the shoes on her feet to tlie comb in her hair, and the baby in clothes taxed 25 per cent, sitting in a cradle taxed 25 per cent., playing with a rattle taxed 20 per cent. He puts on his liat taxed 25 per cent, q.iid.f.if; .it J?, fine, jumps on. his bicycle taxed 20 per cent., recommends his wife to put on her hat taxed 25 per cent., coat taxed 25 per cent., and boots taxed 22% per cent., and take the baby out for an airing in a bonnet taxed 25 per cent., cloak taxed 25 per cent., and pram taxed 20 per cent. "If it is very wet, however, he puts on his leggings taxed 22% per cent., coat taxed 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 the cause of worry. He gets home tired out, puts on slippers taxed 22% per cent., and after much taxed tea he settles down in a chair taxed 25 per cent., and, by the light of a candle taxed Id or l%d per lb, proceeds to write—with ink taxed 2s a gallon, using a pen taxed 20 per cent, on paper taxed SO per cent. —a letter to the press asking why on earth the cost of living is so high."