LABOUR & FARMING INTERESTS

Hokitika Guardian, 4 October 1928, Page 3

LABOUR & FARMING INTERESTS

(The Dominion)'. Why the Labour-Socialist 1 Party should waiit to ini pose double taxation on the farmer is difficult to understand. it is probable, that in most cases the farmer would be better off if he had to pay income tax instead of land tax, for then lie would pfiy only on what he actually earned instead of as at present having to pay on the value of his land, whether lie makes a profit or not. But to compel him to. pay both land and income tax is to saddle him with a burden which is not only unfair to the man on the land, but is opposed to the real interests of the country as a whole. What is the use of calling for higher production and whipping the farmer on to greater efforts if he is to be discouraged by. fresh burdens? The lot of the average farmer nowadays- is not so attractive as to incite any keen or widespread desire to take up farming pursuits, With uncertain prices for his produce,, increased costs of working and of living and a narrowed margin of profit, tlie farmer is not the contented settler it is desirable he should be. Mr Holland’s party, with perhaps one or two exceptions, have no appreciation of this and no sympathy with the man out-back. They live in an atmosphere of Labour Unionism and are blind to the fact that they cannot injure the farmer without every other class in the community.