WELLINGTON NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 31 March 1923, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES

A QUESTION OF TAXATION. THE FARMER'S NEED. [Sr-KCiu, To The Guakjuan.] WELLINGTON. Alarch . 28. -Mr IV . D. Hunt, the chairman of the luxation Coni mission set up by the Government last year, has n mild grievance against the Canterbury Slioepowiiers I nion. By the invitation i‘f the executive of this body, Mill unt went down to Christchurch last

s week to address its members upon the > propriety of abolishing the graduated income tax on companies n,s at present v levied. He has made a. very .special I study of this feature of the Dominion's - system of taxation and has satisfied i himself that the excessive tax on I companies is one of the chief causes of the farmer’s troubles. He speaks I with authority, not only as a rc-pon-i -sihle hu-.ine-s man at the head of one I cl the largest stock and .station firms ■ in the country; but also as a practical farmer with an intimate acqnaintan: e with tin- difficulties that beset b-ih 'tnall and large men on the laud. He laid bis views of the position very hilly before the members cf the Canterbury Union and asked for their a si ian.ee in bringing about a more equitable adjustment of the burdens i I taxation which would save the farmers from many of the grievous charges (hat were falling upon them in the existing circumstances. He has given a very attentive and, lie thought, interested hearing, hut on the conclusion of his address he was allowed t<> withdraw without being asked to listen to the subsequent discussion. A LACK OF COURTESY. Returning to Wellington the same evening Mr Hunt was surprised on Jtts arrival here to learn from a Press Association message appearing in the morning newspaper.' that in his absence the members of the Union had proceeded to discuss his address, and ultimately had adopted, at the instigation of Mr Ji. 1). Aeland, a motion adverse to his proposals. "J understood I was present for the purpo-o of pro- | mnting discussion,'’ Mr Hunt said in | re for i iug to the incident to-day, “and ] I ceitainly did not expect every member of the I'niin to agree with my : views. But if the remarks were to bo ("scussed and strongly criticised, as they apparently were, then surely common courtesy would have suggested that I should have been invited to listen to what was said and t-> reply to any arguments that might have been advanced, but so far from this enurse Doing followed. [ was asked to retire before VI ■- Aeb-mt spoke and : had no opportunity lo hear what he bad to say on tin* subject." Mr Hunt took further exception to the wording of the Pro's Association Message, which lie said, was distinctly misleading since it would convey to the casual reader the impression that he had replied to the critics before the adverse motion wrs carried. Of course that wa • net tin- ca-tc. MISCONCEPTIONS. Leaving tin* personal aspect of the incident with the reflection that in time the fanners would discover the realities of the situation Bo themselves, Mr limit said the motion ad

i.jiL ii by the Union -,>,i widely a'tra.v in it-, assumption that Ihe producers were the only section if the ennunuinly tin I paid land tax. As a matter of .statistical fart si von-sixU’enths of the tax was paid bv town lauds and run .’-sixteenths by country land-. The l;i i in. t’s had not the .-lighted chilli: e ii getting rid cf ihe -•* hole of ihe bind tax. The most they cO'iid reasonably imao for v.U' that it would le redoee-I in th*. same prepm-i ion as the income tax. Uxcept in the ca-e tax did it I wo;k out as a heavier burden than ti.e income lax. In an aver.;: * ;• c.:r id most all farmers eni:A, - pig £! 2Q.fH. ! !I it le .in their operations were hot irr off paying built land d income tax than they would le paying iiaome lax alone. The inr-t ilia; could le exp*-, ted in i I:;* near futiiie would be a reducti-.ii- of (method in the bind tax. Thi- would re;r> id a (oiv:"io]i of CIibQ.OBO on count i’v l.iiids. o’’, app.roximately. Id per la-:' 1 <-n sheep. Is pt-r Itead on cattle, and less than Jd a hii-hel on grain. The pfa-siiig-on process, which was in-ej.a,iabb- from the exiO'.'ive t--.mpr.iiy taxation, cost the farmer' roughly. Hue. millions a ye- r. SUBST\N( hi AND SHADOW. ’I lu -ewe-e the fact' which Mr Muni put before in:* members of the .Sheep i... re,' Union and which remain niidi puled. Mr limit now maintains that by adopting Mr Aelaml’s nieiau, the taxation, r.s the c mpanies niu-L ] ass ml theirs, are : t.endoning the ,-übstaiiee of FA.IA!().QtiO for the shadow of "1 .<>:;Q. IK* wants Mr Aeiand io tell the I'arincrs h*«v they are giiie, to get the money they require at a, reasonable rate of intere i while the State swoops down upon the coin- | allies that would lend il to them and appropriates 7' 11 if .-very pound profit they may make. Jle aNo wants Mr Aeland to Lei! the farmers bow they are going lo continue hearing the enormous charges for services and foi-

iir- !-■ v.hiili represent tlio passing-on of the* e*>:-i’>‘o tnx.'ii ion imposed upon tfir* companies. II " w ail- for a reply.