PRESS COMMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 October 1927, Page 2

PRESS COMMENTS.

No peace appears to he the lot of the Government, which is being attacked and hnrrassed from every side. A significant sequel to the farmers’ agitation is that no longer do Ministers plead that the greatest need of the moment is greater production. Until the costs of primary production become less the army of producers is not likely appreciably to grow. How could it be expected to do so ? This it will be seen that the high costs of production are seriously militating against further land settlement. The position is, plainly, a most awkward one, and the Government has no option but to give the farming community the utmost assistance within its power. Gisborne “ Times.”

The Minister of Finance would discourage the idea that the country need despair about the chance of securing a reduction. But at the present time he is proceeding on the curious principle that it is necessary to increase taxation and thus, as he puts it, to smooth out anomalies in the graduations in order that remissions may later on be grantpd. As, however, lie says in practically the same breath that the class that is most urgently in need oi relief consists of the farmers, who do not pay income tax. his rather misty promise of a reduction of taxation at some indefinite period in the future is not fraught with much comfort to those on whom fresh taxes are now being imposed.-—“Otago Daily 'limes.