6 MAY 1949, Page 18

TAX-PAYERS FROM EIRE

Sta,—In • view of the fact that legislation is being introduced to deal with the status of Eire citizens in Britain, may I draw attention to one point which has received very little, if any; attention? I refer to the virtual exemption of Eire citizens from P.A.Y.E. It -seems that they have merely to fill in. the foim claiming for dependants for their claims to be-auto- matically allowed. They openly boast that the British have no powers to make enquiries Or investigations hi " the Republic " and that the Irish authorities will not supply any information. This state of affairs results poetherely in a substantial loss to. the Treasury, but is a mounting discontent among British workers, who are thus forced to accept a lower standard of living than these aliens. As if to 'add insult to injury, most of these Irishmen have a substantiff part of their travelling expenses paid by the British tax-payer, while the said tax-payer, if working away from home, has to pay his own expenses

out of his reduced earnings.—Nours faithfully, A. P. FRASER.. 73 Grantham Road, Sparkbrook, Birmingham,