Planter’S Life.

The Seamy Side Of A

“Lucky dog!” said I, to the New Guinea planter. “No income tax no rates, no unemployment tax, no sales ta The N.G. planter snorted. “Fat lot you city fellows know about it!” he said.

And he proceeded to give some details of the financial side of a copra-pro ducer's life.

"I pay an education tax of one shilling per boy per month. I have 100 boys.

Bang goes £5 per month! I don t know where it goes, or how my district natives benefit. But I pay it.

“I do a little trading in general mer chandise. Fee for this is £2 per annum.

“I buy and sell copra. Fee, paid to the dear old Administration, £2 per annum.

“I dynamite fish, wherewith to feed my labour. Fee for dynamite permit, £5 per annum.

“I cut a certain amount of timber, as required. Fee for timber-cutting permit, £5 per annum.

"I keep a certain number of guns.

License per gun. 2/6 per annum “I use a boy to shoot game for food.

Fee per shooting-boy, 2/6 per annum.

"In connection with my trading work, I have to have what is called a pedlar's license. Fee, £10 per annum per district “There are other charges, but that will do for the present. Every time I sign a native laborer on or off. I have to pay a fee of 1/-; and I have to pay heavy fees for recruiting labour.

“Which would I rather do—pay all these fees, or pay income tax on an in come which has dwindled away to the

size of a mere living wage?”

I apologised and withdrew.—R.W.R.