THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 1908. INCONSISTENT CONSISTENCY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9047, 13 March 1908, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 1908. INCONSISTENT CONSISTENCY.

In this country of perpetual record surpluses one would think that a Government professing to carry out a humanitarian policy wuuld have found ways and means to give encouragement to such institutions as Ambulance Corps, which serve a most useful purpose in the community, and do it without fee or reward. But motives which appear to be sordid impel the Administration to squeeze from even such beneficient organisations a few pounds which, while of consequence to the latter amount to virtually nothing to the State. Some time ago the Masterton Ambulance Corps raised sufficient money by public subscription for the purchase of an ambulance waggon, which duly arrived in the town. All seemed well for the moment, but, alas! the Customs Department had to be reckoned with, and a charge of £22 for duty was imposed. Application was made for a rebate of duty, but the Minister was inexorable. In a letter to the Masterton Hospital Trustees which was read at the meeting of that body on Wednesday, he stated that several applications for rebate of duty in similar cases had been refused, and be saw no reason to deviate from the rule in favour of Masterton. We contend that there should never have been such a rule established in a matter of this kind. The small amount of revenue receivable for appliances required for Ambulance Corps established voluntarily for aiding the sick and maimed, could be lost to the dominion without making any appreciable difference to the perennial surpluses; but even if it did, the State would bear the comparatively small loss with cheerful approval. Mr Millar is inconsistent in his con« sistency, for it is to be assumed he

supports the dominion's defence movement, which must include Ambulance Corps. In discouraging the voluntary formation of such bodies he is striking a blow at a very important branch of the Defence system. We would recommend him to reconsider his decision, and, if he cannot remit the sums paid to the Customs in the past for ambulance paraphernalia, he should at least see the wisdom of rebating the duties which may be chargeable at present or in the future.