FARMERS'CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 304, 19 September 1919, Page 10

FARMERS'CONFERENCE

YESTERDAY'S BUSINESS

QUESTIONS REGARDING TAXATION

The.conference' of,tho New Zealand ■Farmers' Union continued its sittings yesterday, the president (Sir James Wilsonl occupying the chair. , - : Resolutions.'passed by the conference 'wprm-p ■'. . ' v ,i , ' ■■ "That this,union protest to the Government against the double taxation of land in regard to land and income tax, and the payment of tax on mortgages."— (Marlborough.) . :■ 'That in regard to direct taxation it is inequitable that the taxation of one class of the community should bo computed on a different basis to another, and recognising that .it is only according to the amount of one's income- can be based the ability to pay, therefore taxation should be based on ■ income -only."— (Pelorus.) '- • ■ , "That seeing taxation hears so heavily upon the parents of. large families, this conference suggests that the regulations 'governing the filling in of income , tax .-returns should be altered to provide that the allowance for members of families lie raised from .£25 to .£SO, and that this allowance be made, to apply to all inenitoers (if'Mich family up to sixteen years of age."—(Auckland,) ' ■ • "That an injustice is done to tho farmers' wives engaged in actual farm■ work by refusing to allow deductions for such services; and the conference urges; the Minister of Finance to allow, a reasonable deduction -to be ,nihde in assessment of income tax.','—(Wellington.) , .'.."That the land and income tax form be Eent direct to the individual, ins him when same is due."—(Auckland.) "That this conference considers that tho land valuations are not carried out in a just mamior; tho improvements are not jriven fair value for, and the unimproved values in seme cases are raised 100 por cent. Wo consider a local man should act with the Government valuer.''— (North Canterbury.) , "That, the Government be asked to have the lands of the Dominion periodically valued at intervals of not less than seven years, and that valuations of con tiguous. counties be undertaken in rotation according to their position to each other."—(Tara.naki.)

"That the Government be asked to reoreanise the whale system . of public works': all'work to be. let on contract by open tender, where possible.'MAuck-' land.) ..•.-:.- ■

'"That the Farmers' Union.disapprove* of any proposal to levy special rates on land values for public works, such as a hydro-electric scheme, as any increased ■value'-'due-to such development-is already taxed by the Government and the local bodies."—(Otagb.) ' . . ' • "'""That" Government he urged to amend ' the Customs regulations so as to provide that motor lorries bought by local bodies for purposes'of road construction be placed on theisamo footing as other road-' makihit'machinery, and: the duty, thereon'' ¥efiinded."-(Soilthem Hawkes Bay.) ■ '-"This'-'conferenco . protests against the •uiiiust'charge for stock ■'trucks by the Public Works Department :on those S(» tions :ot railways which have not been taTcehl'dvef'bythe railway authorities.'--l Aifckiand.).. : ■