EIGHT-POINT PLATFORM ANNOUNCED

Chronicle (Levin), 5 October 1946, Page 7

EIGHT-POINT PLATFORM ANNOUNCED

—Press Association

Federated Farmers' Policy

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, Oct. 4. 'iAn eight plank piatform for the newly founded Federated Farmers of New Zealand was dctermined at the "first Dominion confercnce which ended today. The piatform opens with. the declaration that Federated Farmers of New Zealand plaees principles before party and supports no political organisation but reserves the right to criticise the legislation of any political party. The several planks of the piatform are as follow : — State Ownership. and Control. Federated Farmers holds that it is desirable that the State should operate certain public services, especially where by their nature they must be of a monopolistic cliaracter, sueh as railways, telegraphs and electricity, but the Eederation is definitely opposed to the policy of State ownership aud control of means of production, distribution and exchange. Costs and Prices While the Federated. Farmers' policy is that the soundest method of closing the g'ap between farmers costs and prices is by a reduction of costs, it insists' on its eomplete closing by a reduction of costs or by an increase in prices. Such adjustment must enable farmers to pay competitive rates of wages, allow them a reasonable interest 011 capital invested in the f'arms and stock, enable them to meet increased costs imposed by legislation including tariffs and/ or import control, allow them femuneration commensurate with the service they render and 'witli that obtained by other members of the community who render equal service, preserve capital invested in land, and stimulate the full use of land. Cooperatlon.. Federated Farmers strongly supports the principle of cooperation with producer control where it will enable farmers more economically to produce and market produce. It strongly supports the cooperative provision of farm finance. It supports processing for markets, marketing of primary produets and provision of supplies and services by producer controlled cooperative or'ganisations. It denies that wheFe, in order to make cooperative processing for markets and the marketing of farmers' produets fully effeetive in meeting organised comjDetition of other countries, the Government makes cooperation compulsory, the State has any right to take control out of the hands of the farmers. -Taxation. Federated Farmers is opposed to the land tax which is wrong in principle and uiijust in its ineidence. It urges that direet taxation. replace indirect taxation as far as possible, that all direct taxation be levied 011 personal income only and be so graduated that the burden falls most heavily, on those best able to bear it, that all taxation payments be exempt from further taxation, that taxation through customs be for rcA^enue purposes only and be confined mainly to lnxuries, and except in regard to lands held for specificl purposes, the liolder sliall be entitled to acquire the freehold from : the State under fair and reason1 able eonditions, that the Govern1 ment facilitate the taking up of land by suitable settlers with 1 small amounts of capital and existing obstaeles in this direction be removed. ; Social. ! Federated Farmers strongly 1 supports a national health insuranee seheme financed by compulsory direet contributions levied 011 wages, salaries or personal I income 011 a flat rate in the pound, | the benefits to be available with- ! out hny limitation of income or in ; any other way, the total cost of - hospital finance ultimately to be 1 a charge on the fund. Federated Farmers also supports a universal . national provident fund similarly i' financed, to provide for all pen- ^ sions and allowances for public * services. Education. Federated Farmers supports equal opportunity for education L for town and country children in- : cluding consolidation of country 1 schools where desirable. Currency. [ Federated Farmers approves ; control of the issue and withi drawal of credit and currency by | a national authority free from political control.