MORE TAXES FOR THE FARMERS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5340, 17 October 1928, Page 2

MORE TAXES FOR THE FARMERS.

Can. the country stand the heavy drain that prohibition, would entail? Are we such, an irrespojnfsible community that our la,ws are not stringent enough,, and that we have tqimport the American idea of prohibition ? These are questions that every thinking elector will find- nodifficulty in angwening. The cost of living has increased wherever prohibition has been tried, heavier taxes, have been levied in order to make up the deficit in revenue, farm la.nds have depreciated in value, and: 1 from every viewpoint, prohibition has been proved a colossal failure. The late Right Hon. XV. F. Massey, who himself was a farmer, said: “The deficiency in the revenue, caused by prohibition would fall on the people by way of all-rou.nd taxation.” The revenue derived from the sale of liquor in, New Zealand amounits to ever £1,900,000 per. annum, and if prohibition were carried taxation on foodstuffs and other necessities wOiuld be absolutely essential in order tomake; up this sum. Not only so, but the Government wquld have to find another million at least for the purrpose of attempting to enforce the' law, and the farmer would havei to> bear his. share. Injcreased land tax: aii,d heavier duties on agricultural machinery and implements would be almost certain to be imposed.*