Sir: Both Mr Moszynski and Mrs Sweet- man are largely
in the same difficulty of comprehension of what the community charge is all about (Letters, 24 March). The former states that 'it is unfair'. As we all share free access to the health service, police and fire protection, sewerage, street lighting and so on, is it not right that we should all pay for them? And as those in relative poverty can get up to 80 per cent relief it is difficult to see where the basic `unfairness' arises. The latter quotes occu- pancy of a semi-detached house, under whose roof may be the father wage-earner, wife possibly in part-time occupation, a daughter secretary and a son, let us say, a self-employed plumber. The rateable value of the house might be £300, the family income many times that. Is it 'fair' that three members should get all these services free?
Both should recall if they did not know it already that it is the householder who carries the rates burden, and that for years it has been realised that all sharing the benefits outlined should contribute at least in some part, but nothing has been done until now. Mrs Thatcher and her Govern- ment have had the guts to tackle it greatly to the delight of Mr Kinnock et al who incidentally acknowledge that the problem exists, though so far they have failed to formulate any practical alternative.
Robert Cutler
19 Woodlands Road, Surbiton, Surrey
Previous page
