NEW YORK: Any American who goes to a night club April 1 or thereafter will find a walloping 30 per cent tax added onto his bill. The tax has been five per cent. The difference explains why Americans hereafter will think several times before buying any of the items that are classified under the new tax bill as luxuries or near luxuries. The category includes furs, jewellery, nightclub and theatre charges, liquor, toiletries, club dues and initiation fees, not to mention electric light bulbs, telegrams, cablegrams and radiograms, purchase of new luggage and the poor man’s champagne — beer.

The new, stiffer taxes are intended to help beat Hitler, Tojo and Co. and will continue until six months after victory, at which time the bill provides for reversion to the old peacetime rates.

[Meanwhile, as reported from New Delhi,] a well-known “Spitfire” squadron fresh from the Italian battle front is now operating against the Japanese over Burma. It is the Nizam of Hyderabad’s Squadron and is composed of pilots from every part of the British Empire. The Squadron is commanded by a 22-year-old New Zealander who was awarded the D.F.C. in October, 1942 at Alamein for leadership and devotion to duty.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2019