FARMERS’ DEPUTATION

Hokitika Guardian, 23 August 1929, Page 5

FARMERS’ DEPUTATION

TO PRIME MINISTER'/ 1 (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 23. A deputation from the Conference of ihe Farmers’, Union and other primary producers, waited on Sir Joseph Ward to-day. and brought before Him the resolutions carried yesterday. ( Introducing it, ,Mr pPolson hoped that when hills came down embodying the views of the Government that considerable amendments AVQuld be made. After hearing the •"'speakers,, Sir Joseph Ward said the" matter was one surrounded with great “ difficulties. It wp.s due to the large'! holdings in this country. Unquestionably the owi\ers i ,.liad not been contributing their share, of taxation, At any rate not since the repeal of income tax after the vwar was it was preventing settlement.- • were possible to&dve right through this country settlers• upon land worth £15.000 or £20,00'" -in value, there need not be. any by legislation at It was. however,- a/small numbei beyond those figures' who held large areas of land, the legislative proposal was directed at. They had' to remember that anv people ( who had Were holdings had investments m things outside their land and if a reduction of mortgages were put into operation in the case of that section of the community, they nau onlv to get accommodation against their large holdings, , and with the investments they had got m other things escape taxation altogether Sir Joseph Ward said a hardship clause was one of the contemplated changes be had in mind, so as not to do an injustice to anybody. He did not want to do anything would disturb the settlement of tbe

C °Th(‘ Government wnted to treat bona-fide farmors in the broad sense of the Wrd, with perfect firmness. The resolutions of the con eionce would be considered with most anxious care, with a desire to meet tl.e

The first test of capacity to goi er wisely is the ability to use all possiWe agencies in the public service, and the man who can use those services if he would only know it. docs not impair his own digni y- He becomes effective in what he has to do, and becomes himself a more powerful influence in the community. i While recognising that farmers wem entitled to criticise the propose s t.|,e Government he objected to organised meetings being held and who^sa. e resolutions being passed as i the *h 1 of New Zealand was convulsed- He had had representations cm the o hei side from many of the disuic s which t'-ose resolutions had come, reminded the deputation that only . row years ago all mortgages were taxed and that went on for vears. 6t Concluding Sic W Word s»,d U* Government wanted to get axn upon a fair basis, without do.ng injury to farmers or anybody else.