WAR PROFITS AND SMALL FARMERS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2812, 1 July 1916, Page 10

WAR PROFITS AND SMALL FARMERS

Sir,—l notice in a recent issue of Tna Dominion a louder on the proposed new taxation of war profits, :in which I think you say that all increase of in. come over the average for the three proceding years is to lie treated as war profit-. Xow, sir, I would like to point out that thin would bo n very heavy, and .to my mimi unjast, tax on at least 011 c clas*. i.e.. the uiolieev fariusr. who is breaking; in virgin country. This m.-tn has probably increased the amount of his exports by Sill to 100 nor cjnt., and to do this has lton'owed money, and has r.ot mads two blades of grass grew Where one siew. but lius made grass grow where no:;e grew. I ask, sir, is it fair to call the extra return from increased production "war profit"? At the outbreak of war the Prime Minister appealed to all producers to produce as much as possible* Mid I ask, is it fair to classify as war, profit that butter, cheese, wool, meat, etc:, which improving fanners havo produced? While lam not saying that the taxation oropospd is too heavy (for I know that those who do not tight must pay), still I think the extra average pries per pou.nd sliouhj !> :ir the taxation, and not, as is proposed, the extra production. Trusting some abler pen than mine will take'' the matter up.—l ant, etc.. PIONEER. FARMER.