ECONOMY AND TAXATION.
[To TER EDITOR 01 THIS SPECTATOR:1
gIE,—I see by the reports of Parliament that Mr. Asquith has again made an appeal for individual economy. He has made several before, he may make many more ; but he may save him- self the trouble, for they do no good whatever among the class he wants to reach—the working classes. It is impossible for him to make them understand that they have any financial responsibility to the nation. The saving among them have been saving, and will continue to save. The others will continue to spend, as they have been doing, with both hands. There is only one way of saving part of the flood of money at present passing through their fingers—that is, taxation. A correspondent of yours recently advised a tax of one penny in the shilling on amusements. That is far too little. There are people in this district who go to a place of amusement every evening. A 25 per cent. tax on amusements could be put on without affecting the comfort of any one ; nor, I believe, would it materially affect the attendance at picture shows, &c., even if it all wont on to the charges for admission. The authorities issued an appeal for economy in the uses of sugar—just a waste of ink. There aro tons of sweetmeats eaten every day on Clydeside. If the consumption of sugar is to be reduced, the duty must be raised. If the Government are afraid to raise the Sugar Duty, lot them put a 50 per cent. tax on sweets. Then, if they still hesitate about prohibition, why not double the Excise Duties ? The trouble about the Government is that they are so desperately afraid to do what the country has been expecting. They are far behind popular opinion to-day. Why not double postage rates for cards and letters and reduce immensely the work of an overtaxed Department and put a stop to much useless and costly advertising, and (incidentally) save paper 1—I am, Sir, &c.,
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