SHEEPOWNERS’ DEPUTATION

Hokitika Guardian, 29 August 1929, Page 5

SHEEPOWNERS’ DEPUTATION

REQUESTS TO PREMIER.

\By Telegraph—Per Press Association.'

WELLINGTON, August 29. A deputation waited on Sir Joseph Ward from the Slieepowners* Federation to ask that a levy be imposed on sheep farmers to provide funds for the research and advertising of wool to combat the falling prices and artificial rivals.

Sir Joseph Ward said the Government was prepared to draft such a Bill.

The deputation also offered a protest against the taxation proposed on farm lands, and endorsed the resolutions of the Farmers Conference. Sir Joseph Ward said the Government .did not want to do anything unfair with regard to taxation. It had moved as it has done because without a certain amount of revenue coming from the land, it could not make both ends meet. The Government wanted to avoid any incongruities and was prepared to go into the matter. It did not want to press the small or average farmer with the legislation it proposed.

He was guided in land values largely by the C'omnii ssioner of Taxes, ly by the Commissioner of Taxes, gone into the matter very fully before submitting it in the Budget to his colleagues for consideration. If the Government abandoned its, proposals for taxation, it would have to introduce another system 'and ask the same' people to pfty it. The Gov“rnment could not have such a deficit as existed without taking steps to make it up. If it did not, then at the end of .next year it would have to put a murderous taxation upon the people of the country to make both ends meet. There were other countries which were having great difficulty in doing that. The deputation might be. right in its views, but he reminded them there were other opinions.