EMBARGO ON HIDES AND SKINS.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 March 1919, Page 7

EMBARGO ON HIDES AND SKINS.

A CLASS TAX. At Thursday's meeting of the Taranaki executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, the chairman brought up the matter of the prohibition of the export of hides and skins, and said that tile Union should voice a protest against a matter that was a class tax. If, he said, consideration is given to consumers it should come out of the consolidated revenue. The position in regard to flour is that the Government makes up the difference, and so it should he in all similar cases. All 'branches should -be asked to take up the question and send replies to the secretary, and then he could send them to tiie Minister. Mr. Owen said he could bear out the chairman's remarks. He was confident that if they went round the freezing companies they would find enough hides in the various works to make boots for ten million people. This was a tax directly tacked on to the farmer. Mr. Maxwell said that the Union's business was to do what they could and to keep on working for the farmers. He referred to the success met with In the case of the butter-fat tax—a great deal more than appeared. In this instance they must fight against class taxation, poking the one for the benefit of others. If all get a benefit they all should pay . equally. Wages had been raised to meet the cost of living. If there was regulation of prices for local consumption all such measures should be considered war measures. He said he was satisfied that boots were sold at an extortionate price, considering the price of leather, and the community were not benefited, because they were getting worse boots at higher prices. Mr. Astbury said he was glad to speak in support of the chairman. Last spring was the severest experienced in Taranaki for many years, and the mortality was enormous He said that hides sold then were still in stock. Those who stood the racket of the loss in cattle should not be deprived of any advantage offering. He said this was one only of the wrongs done by the National Government. The chairman said he was opposed to any interference with trade. There was now an embargo on potatoes. It was quite wrong. He moved the following resolution: That this Executive enter an emphatic protest to the Minister against the embargo recently placed on hides and skins at the instigation of the Board of Trade, as it is legislation of a distinctly olasß nature and operates to the detriment of producers, inflicting considerable loss upoD them, while in no way ensuring that, consumers shall obtain their requirements at a lessened cost nor of better quality, and that branches be notified of this resolution and asked to support the Executive in the attitude they are taking in this matter." This was seconded by Mr. Owen and carried.—Star.