PROPOSED WAR TAX

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2526, 29 July 1915, Page 2

PROPOSED WAR TAX

» THE FARMERS' VIEWS EXPORT TAX OBJECTED TO Taxation for war purposes was a subject of lengthy discussion at yesterday's sittings of the Farmers' Union Conference. The discussion was opened afc midday when the items on the order paper referring to tho matter wero reached.

Mr. G. Anderson (Pelorus Sound), in moving the first remit, bearing on the question, objected to anything iu tho nature of a class tax. The suggestion that war expenditure should be met by a tax on imports and exports would hit tho former doubly.

Mr. E. Dunn (Taranaki) considered that if the present taxation were subject to an increase of 25 per cent.,-tho war expenditure could bo met. •

Mr. Thos. Moss (Wellington) thought the farmers should show the Government that they were prepared to meet their fair share of the taxation.

After some further discussion it was decided that tlio seven remits covering thb question should be referred to a committee, tfhich could consider them during the dinner hour, and bring down one comprehensive proposal to be debated by the conference.

After the adjournment, Mr. Jas. Be'gg (Otago), on behalf of the committee, submitted _tho following resolution for the consideration of the conference :—

"That the Government be urged, in the eyent of a war tax being levied, that it should be made to press equitably on all members of the community, but this conference strongly objects to a tax upon exports." The mover explained that the tax on exports was objected to on principle. Such a tax would hinder production. Mr. Moss "seconded the resolution, arid stated that its form had met with the unanimous approval of the committee. It was agre'ed : that the' Govern--ment should have a free hand in the matter of levying the tax, but the committee was of opinion that there should be 110 special tax upon exports. Major Lusk (Auckland) agreed that a special tax upon exports would not be a fair method of raising the necessary money. ' Mr. J. Boddie (Auckland) contended that an increased tax upon propertv and incomes would be more unfair than a special tax upon imports and exports. Ho objected to the conference adopting an attitude similar to that adopted by the racing clubs and the Sports Protection League, and objecting to a special tax simply because it would touch their owiipockets. (Cries of "No.") The extra profits obtained by the farmers during tlio war would be only temporary, but at the end of the war tlio farmers, would have their land because the British Navy had protected it for them. ?, Mr. G. Sheat (North Canterbury) favoured tlie free admission of necessaries, but a tax on luxuries and a doubled income and land tax. .Messrs. G. Gardner (North Canterbury), K. D. Duxficld W. A. Cox (Southland), John M'Quemi (Southland), and others approved the resolution, which was carried on the voices.