DERATING
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—I have been wondering whether there are others amongst your readers who, like myself, are just now feeling the full force of recent Conservative legislation. Unfortunately the result was only too painfully in evidence in our last financial year's balance sheet. The severe extra taxes inflicted in such a cruel and unjust way came at a time when our industry was least able to stand the strain after successive upheavals. First of all licences for heavy motor vehicles were doubled, followed by the petrol tax. Contributions to widows and orphans pensions raised, and now the last straw !—a large increase in rates on account of reassessment on offices and other premises under the Derating Bill. Such policy must inevitably increase unemployment. In this particular case at least twenty-five men are in jeopardy of losing their jobs, with women and children numbering probably one hundred. For the past sixty years there has not been a single dispute regarding wages—in fact, no discontent at all has been manifest between master and men. It makes the matter no easier to bear when a large weekly sum is being taken away from us for the benefit of many prosperous and wealthy firms simply because they happen to be manufacturers. Is it human nature to forgive and forget so serious an injury to one's life work ? When I supported the late Government, little did I think the advent of a Socialist Government would be hailed with relief and welcome. One would naturally have expected, when the late Government took office, con- sidering the state of trade at the time; that not a-single addi-
tional burden would have been added in any way to handicap private enterprise.—I am, Sir, &c., " FAIRPLAY."
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