WAGES FOR WIVES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 54, 9 March 1943, Page 7

WAGES FOR WIVES

When the guaranteed price scheme was introduced its proponents explained that the prices lixed would cover the value of labour provided by the farmer's Avife and family. To-day probably more wives are working in milking slieds than ev©r before and some months ago members of the Northern Thames SubProvincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union contended that It was; ©nly fair that any payments made to them by their husbands should be regardedl as. farm expenses and so deductable'from income tax returns. It has been stated that, except in a legal partnership, the deduction' is not allowed. It may be difficult to provide greater elasticity in these matters, but to the layman it will seem strange that because a Avilc. in the absence of farm labour turns to and helps

with the herd one result may he to increase the fanner's taxation demands. Had a man been employed his wages would have been a charge to set. against tlie income,, but because a wife doer; the wor'k no deduction is permitted. Because of her effort, to assist primary production the State will take a little more of the farmer's income. In much the same way some farmers who used to employ labour to cut. scrub but now cannot get anyone to do the work have smaller wages bills and may show an apparent increase in taxable income, but the productive capacity of their farms will have been reduced and, a future liability incurred. Men who have had to cut down on purchases of fertilisers may face the same position. lit is understood that in these cases they can place the position before the authorities, but apparently that avenue is not. open to men. whose wives assist them -with the farm I work..