“REDUCE TAXATION”

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1061, 27 August 1930, Page 7

“REDUCE TAXATION”

MR. H. D. ACLAND’S ADVICE SHEEPOWNERS’ MEETING Special to THE SUN WELLINGTON, Today. “The first requirement for a return to sound and safe conditions is a reduction in taxation. ‘‘This can be done only by reducing the cost of the public services. High rates and taxes prevent improvement in conditions, and check business enterprise.”

This is the advice of Mr. !!. D. Acland, president of the New Zealand Sheepowners’ rind Farmers’ Federation given at the annual meeting of the federation today. Mr. Acland also suggests to the Prime Minister that it might be advisable to obtain the services of Professor J. M. Keynes and invite him to visit New Zealand and advise the Government. Professor Keynes is one of the most noted economists in England today. There is no doubt that the declared policy of this federation in regard to taxation, that is, ability to pay, is fast gaining ground in the mind of the, country, and that it is only a matter of time when taxation must be levied on an economic rather than on a political basis, continued Mr. Acland.

It is said that men must not be put off from the public service because that will increase unemployment. This, in fact, amounts to the argument that j the farmer must work for nothing. ; and be a slave in order to maintain all bureaucratic aristocracy in comfort. The sooner more of the people in the country get into economic labour and production, the better for the country. POLITICS AND ECONOMICS We sheepowners are not a political j body, but. as primary producers, we are in this position that the main' questions now dealt with by Parliament are questions not of politics, but of economics, and our difficulties as producers are economic. It becomes, therefore, almost an impossibility for primary producers to keep outside the Parliamentary arena, although we may keep clear of party politics. The reason is that politicians have invaded the economic arena for many years with their legislation, and the sheepowner is. therefore, driven to action in economic matters to defend his existence as a sheepowner and producer. Formerly, the idea of Government was to maintain order and keep the industrial and economic ring clear, and allow economic matters to settle themselves. Today, democratic Government has rushed into the economic ring and taken a hand. PARLIAMENT’S WORK I have urged, on many previous occasions, that the main questions to be dealt with by Parliament and politicians are questions, not of politics, but of economics. If such is the case. It is absolutely necessary that we must, as a nation, study and grasp economic facts. In my opinion, this has not been done by the average elector at all. or by candidates for Parliament. And it is “economic facts” that are facing the farmers today, and if we do not deal with them according to economic laws and bring in competent advisers or economic doctors to assist us in oilieconomic ailments, then we primary producers are likely to be faced with ruin. The primary producer must be saved, and his budget must be balanced. If it is not balanced, then the Government’s balance will ultimately be woefully short. The best persons to assist us are those who will place the economic position before the country and explain the unpleasant things we must do to ourselves. I know this is a most unpopular thing for a Parliamentary candidate to do, but if it is not done, then the unemployment or rather destitution that now exists in the country must, and will, get steadily worse. REDUCE COSTS Costs must be reduced, and these can only be reduced by reducing money wages all round, not only for so-called workers, but for the whole community. We all know the bailiff has arrived in Australia. He will be here too if we don’t face facts. The payment for our breach of economic laws extending over 80 years now appears likely to be demanded. Have wo not by means of borrowed money, the public works and local public body system of artificial wages set too high a standard of living? The ordinary person has apparently never attempted or desired to obtain knowledge of these laws. Now his feeling is one of resentment, and he wants to strike out and hit something, but this won’t help him or the to solve our economic difficulties. Honest politcians must refuse to surrender their reason and opinion to the clamour of the crowd.

Political slogans may win elections, but political slogans will not help us much. What we want is the hard facts of statistics and figures relating to the cast of production, and the value of the product. Parliament and the elector have not yet grasped the fact (largely perhaps because they do not want to) that economic laws and the laws of gravity cannot be altered by popu’ar clamour and making a noise.