FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1919, Page 5

FARMERS' UNION.

THE COMMANDEERING OP PRODUCE By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Yesterday. The Farmers' Union Conference to-day rejected, by 10 votes to 13, a remit, that the New Zealand Government lie urged to determine the commandeering of New Zealand produce at as early a 'date as possible, so as to prevent manufacturers and profiteers exploiting the producers and consumers. At the meeting it was stated thai the Sheepowners' Federation had passed the following ;• "That the New Zealand Sheepowners' Federation is of opinion that the Government should take immediate steps to endeavor to arrange with the Imperial Government for the sale to that Government of the whole of the export of meat from New Zealand for a further period of twelve months from June 30, 1920, on the best terms available, subject, however, to the Imperial Government lifting all its purchases from the stores in New Zealand not later than December 31, 1021. THE MEAT TRADE COMMISSION. Wellington, Last Night. Mr. Vavasour's motion re sending home a commission was lost. The conference then carried Mr. A. Poison's motion providing that a coinmission, consisting of one North Island I representative, one South Island repre- j sentative, one representative of farmers' freezing companies, and one Government official, should proceed to England to examine the conditions and make repra. sentations to the Imperial Government concerning the New Zealand meat trade Subsequently it was decided that Mr. W. J. Poison, of Wftiigimui. should be th'i North Island representative on the commission, and Mr. D. Jones, of Dunsandel, the South Island member. TAXATION ANOMALIES AND INEQUALITIES. The Farmers' Conference carried the following remits: — That this union protest to the Government against the double taxation of land in regard to land and income tax, and the payment of tax on mortgages. That, in regard to direct taxation, it is inequitable that the taxation of one class of the community should be. computed on a different basis to another, and, recognising that it is only according to the amount of one's income can be based ability to pay, therefore taxation should be based on income only, j That, seeing that taxation, bears so [hfcavily upon the parents of large families, this conference suggests that the regulations govetnihg filling in of income tax returns should be altered to provide that allowance for members I of families be raised from £25 to £SO, and that this allowance be made to apply to all members of such family up ts sixteen years of age. That an injustice is done to fanners' Wives engaged in actual farm work by refusing to allow deductions for such services, and the conference urges the Minister for Finance to allow a reasonable deduction to be made in the assessment of income tax. That a land and income tax form be, sent direct to the individual, notifying bhft when the same is due. LAND VALUATION. That this conference considers that land valuations are not carried out in a just manner. Improvements are not given fair value for, ana unimproved values, in Some cases, are raised 100 per cent. We consider a local man should act with the Government valuer. That the Government be asked to have the lands of the Dominion periodically valued at intervals of not less than seven years, and that the valuations of contiguous counties be undertaken in rotation, according to their position to each other. OTHER RESOLUTIONS. That the Government be asked to reorganise the whole system of public works, all work to be let on contract by open tender where possible. That the Farmers' Union disapproves of any proposal to levy special rates on land values for public works, such as the hydro-electric scheme, as any increased value due to Sucli development is already taxed by the Government and local bodies. That the Government be urged to amend the cuStotos regulations so as to provide that motor lorries bought by local bodies for purposes of road construction be placed on the same footing ad other road-making machinery, and duty thereon be refunded, A remit from Otago, "That the union should approve of the principle of government by an elective executive," wis lost, aS was an amendment, "That the whole of the members of the party in power ahsri4 th« executive,"