GENERAL BUSINESS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 517, 26 May 1909, Page 10

GENERAL BUSINESS.

[;'■:■"' " : ; : . lAnd act.', : ;;' : " : ' ; ' : .::' : ' Mr.'W. J. Moore (Makuri) moved:—, '•... '"'That. the . Government be urged : to , .amend the Land vAct so as to givo Crown, tenants the option of purchasing the freehold-of their lands at the original value, and the payment, of the difference between the. 4 per cent, now charged on the lease in perpetuity arid • .the 5 per cent, charged to tenants with • the right of purchase, and the sale of : . : all future lands shall carry the- right of purchase with limitation of area.". ' Mr..Mayo (Feilding) seconded. . '•■-.'■. Messrs. Cooper, Birch, and, other members spoke strongly in support of the motion,' but 'it was pointed out tliat, as worded, it did not cover lands-for-settlement tenants. The motion was amended so that the essential portion road: "Giye all Crown tenants the option of purchasing the freehold of their lande at the original value, and (in the case of L.I.P. tenants) the payment of the difference," etc.; and, as amended, was carried unanimously. ■ . .LAND VALUATIONS. , Mr. A. Howie OVaverley) moved :— . "That the attention of the Provincial Conference bo drawn to the enormous ; and .unjustifiable increase in land valua- ; ~ tions (especially in the face of the- fall- ,, '.'. ■ ing market) and the grossly unjust man- ■ - ner in which the valuators cut down' . the improvements." \ i .. . . The mover stated that farmers were being gradually robbed of their: honest improvements. .. Captain'Hewitt concurred with this view. ' In'conjunction with' the motion the conference also discussed the following motion of, Mr. J. C. Cooper (Pahiatua) :■— • "That the present system of valuation of land for taxation purposes should • . be abolished, and that valuations should ■.' be based on the earning capacity of land ■'. extending over a term of years.", ~ Mr. Ewan Campbell (Wanjjanui) said that the only practicable basis or valuation was what the land would fetch in the market. That value,was ascertainable, but it would require an expert to decide tho earning value of land. Nevertheless, many people—including Mr. O'Rcgan—seemed to think it was an easy matter to find out the earning valuo of land. Tho fact was some farmers would make a success of land whoro others would-fail. . . ' •'•.'' ; Mr. Escott (Woodville) expressed similar viows. .'. • Mr. Howio said that theso contentions wero tho best possible arguments in favour of income tax as the beat method. Mr. Venn (Shannon) said that valuers should bo solccted on their knowledge of land .values, and tho valuation should be based on what it had earned'- or ought to havo earned. It was not correct, as had been stated, that a man growing fruit would have a bigger net income than one grazing sheop. If tho sheep farm wero well conducted, and full valuo allowed for all labour, employed, the not returns from sheep would be superior to those of the fruit-growor or the dairy farmer. : Mr, A. E. Russell (Palmoroto? North) and

other speakors considered capital value- tho best basis. .•''.. ..-■ '•• •■-•'■-. Mr. Moorb said that a valuer had told him Hawke's Bay land was valued at'£6 por sheop per aero. Speaking of improvomontß, he mentioned that hundreds of pounds spent in regrassing land denuded by fire didn't count: it was only a "coat of paint." Mr. Falconer (Kaituna) was of opinion that harm had been done by continually increasing tho price of land in the fnco of falling markets. Mr. Moss (Eketahuna) said that taxation on earning capacity would mean that a few acres of country land would bo taxed higher than a section of reclaimed building land at Wellington, which would grow nothing. Mr. Venn: It will grow warehouses. : Mr. Cooper held that the Pahiatua motion was incorrectly worded. It should have been valuation on "the selling value' extended over a term of years." Tho object was to escape the pretended system of taxation on unimproved values, which was, by unfair means, being rapidly brought back \o the system of the old property tax Tho Pahiatua motion was defeated. Mr. Birch (Marton) moved as an amendment to the Waverlcy motion: — "That the present system of land taxation upon the so-called unimproved value should be abolished, and all taxation of land should bo on the basis of capital value." . ' ■ ■. .' Mr. Guthrie (Feilding) seconded, and the amendment was carried. , : LAND TAX RETURNS. ' ■ The following motion of Mr. A. Robinson,; Wanganui, was carried: —"That" seeing the Department takes no notice of the returns sent in by owners under the land tax valuation, but always takes the valuator's value,. tho Government be requested to discontinue requiring owners to furnish returns, as they appear to be quite valueless." GRADUATED LAND TAX. Mr. Cooper, Pahiatua, moved:— "That this conference supports the United Chambers of Commerce in condemning the present graduated "land tax."' : . ■ Captain Hewitt seconded. Mr. M'Gregor, Masterton, said that the anomalies of the system were so vexatious that when it was lately to form a syndicate in connection with the new Masterton show ground none of the wealthy men dared to take part unless a company were formed in such a way as to protect them from tho graduated taxation. . ■ ..-,■■ '.' The motion was carried. ; LAND BOARDS. Mr. Mayo, Feilding, moved:— "That all land boards consist of five mombers, two to. bo. elected by the Crown tenants, the Government to appoint" two, and the : Commissioner of Crown Lands in each district to bo chairman." . '.. ; Mr. ~Falcorier seconded. .'...-' ! Mr. Cooper said that the Government had admitted a right in this matter, but nobody could consider the one seat conceded a fair representation for Crown tenants. • ■ '.. 'rho president stated that in the Bush districts the tenants possessed four-fifths of tho value of the lands they occupied, and the Orown only a fifth.'- The tenants therefore had a just claim, to fuller representation oa the controlling body. ■ ' The motion was carried unanimously. / CROWN.LAND BALLOTS. Mr. Balsillio, Palmerston North, moved:— "That the present system of balloting •■ for Crown lands be done away with,.and that, all sections, whether for cash... or lease, should be submitted to public auc- ' ' tion, subject to tho limitation clause under the Lands, for Settlement Act." Mr. Devonshire, Levin, seconded tho motion; and advocated-a- return to the old system: of.purchase with deferred payments. A man might go to the ballot many times before beir.3 successful. . . '•■' : -=.<■:,. • ■■. Mr. Birch, Marton, pointed'out that under the existing system of ballot the Government offered', land at prices considerably below its market value, and "thus attracted a large number of applicants, many of-whom were unsuitable; The successful candidate finally got tho land on terms which were equivalent to receiving a handsome present from the Government. ; . ' Mr. iD. Howie, Pohangina, opposed the motion, and stated that tho result of the proposal would be tlia't tho poor men would never get a chance for land. ."■ Mr. Falconer said that it would rapidly raise land prices, which they' did not desire. 'Messrs. Wliittor, Escott, Nevins, Booths, Robinson, Fletcher, and Moore also opposed the motion. ; Mr. E. Campbell opposed auction, but preferred sale by tender. '"-..' Mr. Robinson said that speculation under the old auction system was far more extonsivo than under the ballot. ' Mr.; Devonshire was of opinion that, with the aid of Government loans, the poor man could bid as high as the man who was wealthy. ■ '..■'' Mr. Moss said that the union should specially be careful not to advocate auction sales. That would tend to increase land values. v Mr. A. M'Gregor opposed both ballot and auction, but preforred a system of allotment on application. ■'/Mr. Mayo said that''no system of auction eale would put more than one settler upon each section. The object was to settle the land, and not to pot ns much money as possible out of the selectors. Mr. Morrison," Halcombe, considered residential and improvement conditions the best cure for abuses. . •■•■ ; Mr. J. M'Leavoy/said that ballots'were as bad as Tattersall's sweeps,- and the winner could get numerous immediate offers of advances on the price he paid. : • Captain'Hewitt favoured a condition prohibitine resale within five years ,' '■ Finally,-the motion was amended by substituting the word "tender" instead of "auction;" and was then defeated. '-■' '■// MORTGAGE TAX. ' ' Mr. Cooper, Pahiatua; moved:—, "That'this conference endorses the resolution passed by the conference of the united Chambers of Commerce to tho effect that .the mortgago tax he abolished, and that taxation on mortgages bo in the form of an income tax." ." He contended .that the -system caused a man v to bo taxed, noton what he possessed; but on what ho owed. Moreover, as owner, he would receive exemption, but, as mortgagor, he received none. : . ' Mr. Campbell, Wanganui, in opposing the motion, said that ho investigated a statement, made at Wellington, that .owing to the mortgage tax throo lending firms retired from the'country. Ho discovered that what really happened was that these three firms wero middlemen. They got money from England at 3 and A- per cent., and lent it out again at 5 or 6 per cent., but when A.M.P. and tho Government camb along with money at i\ per cent, they could no longer compote. . . Mr. Nevins said that; if the mortgago tax were removed, other forms of taxation must be - increased accordingly. : Mr. Guthrie, M.P., considered the mortgago tax bad becauso it was calculated to make investors uneasy. . Mr. Falconer'thought tlint the Government, should borrow two millions for lending out. •-. '■'■ ' . ■ . ■ Mr. Venn, Shannon, said that the tax en--couraged lenders to tend cheaply. . Mr. Morrison,! Hnlcombo, was of opinion that tho tax could not increase mortgage interest, because that interest was already fixrtl by competition. Other speakers thought, thnt there- would soon be nlenty of monev unlocked. Mr. Escott, Wnodyille, snid that it wn,i more important fiat thnro should bo ?niplo Tnoucy .nvailahlo thnn that. th<vy should get tho small income yielded by the tax. The motion was.carried by nearly .two;to one. ' ■ '/ RATIOS OF INTEREST. .'.'•■. . Mr. W. J. Moore, Makuri, moved: — "That tho attention of the Government bo called to the, scarcity of money, and the high rates of interest charged, which hampers farming operations; Government also .to be asked to repeal legislation which has caused tho with. ■Jvowal '*\ outside oaflital"

Tho movor quoted numerous instances of tho difficulty experienced this in securing loans, and said that money was plentiful in Australia, but could not bo got becauso of the mortgage tax. Mr. Novins, Tenui, in seconding the motion, said that New Zealand security was not considered good, owing, largely, to tho socialistic trend of legislation. / Mr. Falconer declared that the repeal of legislation asked for would involve the abolition of advances to settlers. (Cries of "No I") Now Zealand, ho continued, could well niford to do without those men who wanted six or seven per cent, for their money. Mr. Dalrymplo, Marton. believed that the real cause of tho difficulty was Socialisiin legislation. 'i'ho motion was carried. DEFENCE AND DREADNOUGHTS. Captain Hewitt, provincial oxecutive, moved :— "That this conference endorses the action of tho Government in offering to provide ' a first-class battleship to the Home Government." The movor urged a more liboraT acceptance of the Admiralty's arrangements tor sea training for Now Zealand youths, and advocated compulsory military training. Mr.'.Booth, Feilding, in supporting the motion, said that military training, liko swimming, •■ when once learned, was nover forgotten. . ■.. '■.-.' Mr. Escott, vWoodville, remarked that it was unfair that while Britons at home were contributing over £1 a head toward tho Navy, New Zealand should contribute only 12s. '■■■■.■ -: ' ■ Mr. Venn moved an amendment to ad'l (lie v : ords - "But sincerely regrets that the !>fr*r was not made in a more Constitufumal manner." ''Hβ declared that Germany would nover attack Britain , till she possessed an equal fleet, .and also had British commerce cJoscd against her. Mr: Nivcns said that while Briton 3 considered 2s. per cent, on capital value a small sum to pay for naval insurance, New Zealand with her vast export trade atstako should not hesitate to bear her share. Mr. Moore declared with emphasis that British naval supremacy had been challenged, and that challenge should be taken up. If New Zealand came under German rule ho would forfeit his farm and leave the_ country rather than toil under tho supervision'of a Gorman inspector. "But lam glad," he continued, "to ho ablo still to oat roast beef ,with Sir Joseph Ward rather than sauerkraut with Tommy Taylor." (Cheers and laughter.) , Mr. Birch,-Marten, also supported tho motion, and said that they could not be always singing "Rule Britannia" and doing nothing. Mr. Moss, Eketahuna, said that it would be foolish for wealthy,farmers to grudge a few shillings arid risk their country's destiny.' When ho read the remark of a Wellington man'at a recent meotini*: "We have no home and no country—they, belong to the capitalist," his blood boiled,-and be thereupon resolved that his'six boys should learn the uso of the rifle and drill so as to bo able to defend' their homes in the future if the need came. : . Mr. F. Maule, Palmerston North, said that' though ho was of German parentage, ho had m'ado his home in Now Zealand, and if trouble camo the members of his family would fight for the British flag. (Cheers.) ■ Mr. Guthrie, M.P., said that though they declared their readiness , to shed their last drop of'blood, or give their last ponnS , in defence of the Empire they should lift their vbico aaainst the unconstitutional marinor in which Sir. Joseph Ward's offer was raado. Mr. W. Mills, Cheltenham, also regretted tile Prime Minister's method. Mr. Venn said that ho was not a'"Tommy Taylorite," but ho would support tlie motion more .readily if the , suggested amendment as to' the unconstitutional - action were added. Captain Hewitt thought that Sir Joseph Ward, like Nelson at, St., Vincent, might be foimd to have accomplished : a great feat thmigh unconstitutionally. '...' ■'•.■■■ : . Mr. M'Loayey seconded Mr. Venn's amendment, .which was "defeated "; by a large majority. . ; ■'■'■:■' ;■'.;;''Vy;.". , ' .'.'.■; ■!\< : .'-'' -.-.'..•. The motion was;then carriedjunanimo.usly.'. ..' . ,' INSURANCE OF MINERS.' ' : : Mr. J. .G. Wilson, provincial ; executive, moved:— . . , ■ ' ['. ■ "That steps, should.be taken as soon as the House meets to relieve the Dominion from the .responsibility of indemni- ; fying tho Insurance Department against possible losses arising out of the issue of policies to miners without medical exam-. ination." / Mr. Wilson explained that this would involve the repeaj from the Act of last session of a clause which made the miners' disease; of pnonmoconios'is a subject for compensation. Tho clause related to anthrax, lead' poisoning, mercury' poisoning,- phosphorus poisoning, arsenic poisoning, pneumoconiosis, and any other disease which the Governor, by Order-in-Council, might gazette. The insurance companies raised no objection to any except tho last-named disease, and to overcome a deadlock the government agreed to indemnify the Government Life Insurance Office against loss by' tlhat disease. .; Tho motion was carried. FARMERS' PARLIAMENTARY COMMIT- .'...■ ; TEE. , Mr. A. C. Perry, Rongotea, moved:— "That a committee, representative of ;' the farmers and employers, in the House , , - be formed similar .to '.the, Labour Bills Committee.";,.' ;'-,': ..';; Mr. Moss moved the/deletion: of. the word "employers,"- believing that interests wero not always 'identical. . ," . ■ ■' Mr. .Bridge, Eketahuna, , seconded the; amendinent.V -,'.•,;:..' '■,"■ ' ■:;' Both motion and amendment wore rejected.