FARMERS CONFER

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2640, 10 December 1915, Page 8

FARMERS CONFER

NEW INCOME TAX RETURNS EXPLAINED BY COMMISSIONER OF TAXES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Ashburton, December 9. A conference of delegates of afi Canterbury branches of tlic Farmers' Union was -held at Ashburton to-day, Mr. G. W. Leadloy presiding. In the forenoon the following resolutions were carried:— (1) That notwithstanding tho fact that the Government has stated that the systom of purchase, etc., of frozen meat adopted last year is to bo repeated this year, the conference strongly urges that payment on the hooks within twenty-one days should 1)0 adopted as the most equitable system. (i!) That the embargo bo taken off the slaughtering of young cattle in New Zealand,' considering the position in North Otago and Canterbury." (3) That freezing companies doing business in Canterbury should be asked to state on what principle they in- 1 tend to allocate the space this season. At 2 p.m. the chairman introduced Sir Joseph Ward and 3lr. D. G. Clark, Commissioner of Taxes, who had come from Christchurch to address the gathering. Tho chairman submitted the foregoing resolutions to the Minister, who made a sympathetic reply. Ho carefully explained the Government's position, and" undertook to place the resolutions beforo the Prime Minister and_ tho Minister of Agriculture. Sir Joseph Ward then delivered an address explanatory of the Land and Income Tax and tho returns required in connection with it. He answered a number of questions, and the Commissioner of Taxes went into details re the compilation of tho .returns, with members of the conference. ' After Sir Joseph Ward and the Commissioner had retired, it wis resolved: "That the North Canterbury and South Canterbury executives of the union ; draw up a report on the taxation law, and submit it to a combined meeting 1 for confirmation and dispatch later to j the Government." The conference now became considerably reduced in numbers. A niqtion urging the adoption of conscription in the Dominion was carried by six votes to four. It was unanimously resolved that the ! attention of the Government be called '< to the fact that it was impossible to i ship grain to Europe under existing conditions, and that tho conference ap- ; peal to tlie Government for assistance ' towards -bringing about reasonable 1 freight charges. ' j By six votes to four it was resolved that the ' attention of tho Government I be called to tlie fact th,\t the only reli- i tiblo way of getting the acreage of ! grain was by the old system, which was ( abolished four years ago, i.e., by the enumerator calling at eveiy farm. The following motions wore carried almost without discussion:— (1) "That a uniform tariff be fixed on all farm products between Australia P and New Zealand." ' 1 (2) "That freezing companies be ask- c eel to give monthly quotations for 1 skins." " " s (3) "That this conference of farmers J recommends the New Zealand Farmers' u Union to consider the advisability of 6 forming one great meat company for the c Dominion." ~ ' J