N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 76, 29 July 1915, Page 8

N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

DISCUSSION ON WAR TAX. I’Kll I’IIESS ASSOCIATION. Wellington, July 2b. At tho Farmers’ I niou Coniereuee remits regarding the disposal of the national endowment lands were further discussed. The general opinion favored a proposal that such lands should be sold for cash or leased with the option to purchase. The question at issue was how money so raised should he expended so as to increase the value of the endowment. The conference eventually agreed to the main proposal, and hy lb to Ti nega tived the proposal that moneys arising from the sale of endowment lands should he re-invested. The eonlerence also resolved: “That as the present system of valuing land tor taxation purposes lias proved a complete failure, owing to the impossibility of accurately separating improved Imm unimproved value, the eonlerence eon» siders that a much fairer and much simpler way would he to tax on the annual value, with the same exemptions as in the eabe of capital invested in other industries, the annual value to he o per emit, of the capital value. Strong objection to the proposed tax upon exports was taken. Seven icmits from various districts in the Dominion appeared on the order paper, and a committee which had been set up to combine these submitted the following resolution for the consideration of the conference; “'I hat the Government he urged, in the ’event ol a war tax being levied, that it should he made to press equitably on all members of the community, hut this conference strongly objects to a tax upon exports.”

.Mr .hum's 13egg (Otago). who moved tli(> resolution on hohail of the committee, objected to a tax upon exports not because it touched the fanners’ pockets, but upon principle. The present was a fitting time to protest against such a tax. High prices undoubtedly stimulated production, ami the prosperity of the country depended upon an increasing volume of exports.

Mr T. Moss (Wellington) thought the Government should be left a tree linikl in imposing a tax, and the resolution, therefore, did not embody a definite scheme. The prosperity which had come to the farmers had bpen shared by the wage-earners, and a tax upon the exports would not do the -country any good.

Mr -I. Hoddie (Auckland) did not desire that it should go abroad that the farmers objected to a tax upon exports because they were interested parties. To tax property and incomes would be more unfair than to tax exports. He suggested that a I per cent, tax would not be fell by the men on the land.

Mr G. Shout (North Canterbury) said he would he sorry to see the working man hit through the. Customs.

After further discussion the resolu tlon was adopted on the voices,