DEMOCRATIC SNOBBERY.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1921, Page 10

DEMOCRATIC SNOBBERY.

Claims for the Australian baby bonus of £5 during the period of 11 months ended May 31 numbered 125,788, exceeding all previous records. At this rate the claims for the tv hole year to June 30 will total 136,270, as against 111,972 for the previous twelve months. These figures show that, with very few exceptions, the bonus is now paid for all children born in the Comiponwealth, says the Sydney Daily Telegraph. And during the present year to do this will involve a charge upon the revenue of over £660,000, a great part of which went into the pockets of people better off than the average taxpayer who had to provide it. This payment of £5 to a millionaire toward expense incidental to the birth of a child, and the same amount to an unemployed laborer, is a farcical business anyhow. It would be just as reasonable to pay each 10s or £1 a week as an old-age pension on their qualifying by merely living long enough. And, to cap the absurdity of it all, the pauperisation of the wealthy at the public expense is insisted upon in the name of advanced democracy. The objection against restricting the payment of baby bonuses to people really in want of the money is that it would put them to the indignity of accepting it as charity. Yet it is contended that this will in some way be obviated by making the dole available to everyone, rich and poor alike. This snobbish fallacy is costing the country hundreds of thou .ands a year, and assisting to put up the cost of living to the rich, who can afford it, as well as to the poor, who cannot.