Higher Taxes In New

Hebrides

Letter to the Editor SINCE the outbreak of war, things have gone from bad to worse as far as the settlers in the New Hebrides are concerned, and the small man of the “herd” is being pushed out altogether. A Mr. Blandy and an M.

Sautot pass Joint Regulation No. so and-so, increasing taxes perhaps 50 per cent, and the poor herd have no say in the matter, as to why, or wherefore, or what the increased taxes are for. The small animal of the herd is under slow strangulation—and not very slow, either.

The bigger animal can pass it on, to a certain extent; but the big combines overseas pass it all on, and a bit more,

and grind their millions of profit yearly, and no one to say them nay. Is this democracy, Mr. Editor, or have you another name for it?

Immediately on the outbreak of war, the overseas shipping company put up freights 50 per cent. Government taxes of all kinds jumped. But the poor ani mal of the herd is profiteering, if he tries to pass any of it on.

I do not say that the shipping com panies were not justified in raising their freight rates —they are not the wolves but what are the increased taxes for?

What does the Condominium do for it?

The herd has still to wade through rivers, make its own roads, and pay, pay, pay.

The end of the herd is inevitable, under such a system. Oh for a Casimir, or for a Smith-Rewse —men of sympathy