"Tonga's Taxes Are Too High"

A "Left" M.L.C. Censures the Government

Letter to the Editor T SHOULD be much obliged if you would grant me a little space in your jour nal to correct an impression which might be formed by readers of the “Tongan Notes” in your July issue.

Your correspondent states that Taukolo Lagi and I are the leaders of a number of “ hot-heads ” who have been discussing the “ rights and equality of man” and have repeatedly petitioned the Queen to dismiss the Pre mier on grounds that appear to exist only in our imaginations. May I say that there is nothing hot-headed in discussing the rights of man or in desiring a change in the Premiership.

The policy of my friend Taukolo and those who support us is to bring about a reduction of expenditure by the Ton gan Government and a corresponding reduction in taxation. For several years the excessive expenditure of the Govern ment has necessitated the imposition of taxes upon the people which are in reality a' very heavy burden.

We desire to see the Pension Scheme abolished, as the resources of Tonga are quite inadequate for such a scheme. We also consider that there are far too many civil servants, many of them with insuffi cient work to keep them occupied even during the short hours they are supposed to work —a reduction should be made.

There is too much leave on full pay and too much spent on passages—nearly all unnecessary. Why do people want to be tripping off for several months every three years on full pay from one of the healthiest countries in the world?

Those who puli the strings of the Ton gan Government are too busy looking after Number One and have very little time left to do anything about reducing the burdens of the people. If some of the £63,000 odd which is to be spent during the current financial year were used to help those who are short of food, as a result of the hurricane in February* last, it would be more creditable to the Gov ernment.

The roads are badly in need of repair, and it is only a waste of time, money, and material, to drop pieces of broken stone here and there without rolling them, as they are mostly scattered by read users.

We would like to see a change of Mini sters every five years instead of the same people hanging on year in and year out, apparently for ever. When they want an excuse for something for their own bene fit they say the British Government does it Let them follow the example of the British Government by giving the people a chance to turn them out.

I am, etc.,

Afuha’Amago,

Member, Tongan Legislative Assembly Nukualofa, Sept. 22, 1937.