FARMER'S UNION POLICY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 153, 16 July 1937, Page 6

FARMER'S UNION POLICY

-Press Association.)

Platform Planks Adopted at Conference STATE CONTROL OPPOSED

(By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, This Day. The New Zeaiand Farmers' Uni^n, at its annual eonferenee at Wellington yesterday, adopted a jlatform, ine.'udiiig, among others, the . following plansk: — State Ownership and Control: (a) The union is opposed to State ownership and control of the means of pro- • duction, distribution and exchangej (b) nevertheless, it holds that it is dosirable that the State should operate certain public services, especially whdre, by their nature they must be of a monopolistic character, such as ra«lways, telegraphs, and' electricity, Co-operation: The union strongly supports the principle of co-operation where it will enable farcners more economically to produce and market their produce, (a) It strongly supports the co-operative provision of farm finance; (b) it supports the processing for markets, the' marketing of primary products and the provision of supplies and services by producer-controlled co-op-erative organisations; (e) it denies that where in order to make the cooperative processing for markets' and the marketing of farmers' products fully effetcive in meeting the organised competition of other countries, the Government makes co-operation compulsory, the State has any right to take the control out of tho hands of the farmers. Taxation: (1) That direct taxation replace indirect taxation as far- as pos- . sible; (2) that all direct taxation be levied on personal income only, and be so graduated that the burden falls most heavily on those best able to bear it; (c) that all taxation payments be exempt from further taxation; (3) that taxation through the Customs be for revenue purposes only, and be eonfined mainly to luxuries; (4) that where assistance and encouragement of locaL industries is necessary, it .be given in the form of subsidies. Motor Taxation and Boad Finance: That the whole cost of road construetion and maintenance, including interest and principal charged on roading lcans, be bome by users. Land: That, exeept in regard to lands held for specific purposes, the holder ghall be entitled to acquire the freehold from the State under fair and xeasonable conditions. The union strongly supports & na* tional health insurance scheme, fin- " anced by compulsory direct contributions levied on wages, salaries or personal income on a flat rate in the £, benefits to be available without any. limitation of income or in any other way, the total cost of hospital treatment to be a charge on the fund, The union also supports a universal national provident fund similarly financed to provide for all pensions and. allowances for public services. The union approves the control oi tho issue and withdrawal of curreney by a national authority free of political control.