More Taxes For Farmers

Hokitika Guardian, 16 October 1928, Page 1

More Taxes For Farmers

Can this country stand the heavy drain that prohibition would entail? Are 1 we such an irresponsible community that 'our laws are not stringent enough, and that we have to import the American idea of prohibition ? These are questions' that every thinking elector will find no difficulty in answering. The cost of living has increased, wherever prohibition has boon tried, heavier taxes have been levied in order to make up the deficit in revenue, farm lands have deprecated in value, and from every viewpoint, prohibition has been proved a colossal failure. The late Bight Hon W. F. Massey, who himself was a farmer, said: “The deficiency in the revenue caused by prohibition would lall on the people by way of all-round taxation.” The revenue derived from the sale of liquor in New Zealand

amounts to over £1,900,000 per annum. and if prohibition were carried taxation on foodstuffs and othci necessities would be. absolutely essential in order to make up this sum. Not only so, but the Government would have to find another million at least for the purpose of attemoting to enforce the law, and the farmer would have to hear his share Increased land tax and heavier duties on agric-ulural machinery and implements would he almost eertar 1 to he imposed.