TAX ON BACHELORS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8440, 14 May 1907, Page 3

TAX ON BACHELORS.

A tax on bachelors has been imposed by the Lower House of the -Hessian Parliament. The Bill, which is to come into force on April Ist next, provides, in view of the prevailing clearness of food, rent, etc., for an annual supplementary grant to' be given ,to persons in the employ of the State 'Whose incomes do not exceed £IOO per annum. The grant varies between £8 and £l2. As ; lihe Bill stands, however, bachelors * who have only personal responsibilities are to receive only the grant. A clause in the original Bill ordained that persons in the employ of the State who neither are nor have been married, thall receive one-half this amount, but an amendment was ' passed granting the full sum to bachelor employees who maintain a home for parents, relatives or adopted children. The Hessian Government does not favour the amendment,, as it will .necessitate inquiries into the private affairs of employees, but it will probably accept the situation if the Upper House agrees with the Lower House on the subject. It is stated that locally the preference thus shown to married over bachelpr employees of the State is approved, and considered fully justified, as officials are manifesting an ever-growing disinclination to marriage.