COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURE.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1920, Page 6

COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURE.

FARMERS AND AGRICUL CURE. By Teieeiaph.—Press Association. Wellington, June 7. At to-day's.sitting of the Council of Agriculture Mr. F. Young (Goiv) moved that the same amount of depreciation be allowed as a deduction from iiieomj assessment to .farmers, as io business people, irrespective of whether <i farmsr keeps proper boo!c3 or not, and that the basis of depreciation be the value of all ■improvements, as under the Valuation Department. The mover pointed out that depreciation was only allowed if •the books were kept by double entry, and was practically a fine on the farmers.. • There was not one farmer in a thousand who kept books that would satisfy the authorities. In comparison with a business man the depreciation was very much greater with the farmer, especially in regard to fencing. The farmer had neither the time nor the business ability to indulge in an elaborate system of book-keeping. Sir James Wilson questioned whether the income tax on the farmers was intended to he a permanent imposition. It was merely imposed to tide the country over the war. He feared that if the remit was carried it would tend to indicate to the Government that the far*mers' were satisfied that the tax should remain a permanent one. WAR TAXATION. Sir Walter Buchanan was of opinion that neither the conference nor the farmers generally were going to ask the Government at this juncture to remit any war taxation. The conference would, however, be entirely in the right in pointing out to the Government that in many cases incidence taxation, an levied, was not a fair one. After further discussion the remit was adopted with the addition of the words "During the operation of the farmers' income tax as a war tax," holding it was not fair to require the farmer to pay taxes on his mortgage, on which he in any case had to pay interest.

TAXATION OF MORTGAGES. The Taranaki delegate moved the following remit: "That the Government be urged to amend legislation regarding taxation to ensure that the taxpayer is not taxed on his mortgage debts." The remit was carried. NEED OF NEW MARKETS. The necessity for opening up new markets for New Zealand produce, with particular reference to America, was urged during a brief discussion on the following remit, which was unanimously adopted: "That owing to the world shortage of foodstuffs, the Government be asked to allow the freest exchange of all produce." On the ground that wheat-growers were not adequately represented the conference affirmed the remit from Eliesmere "that better representation bo given to agricultural and pastoral associations when conferences were arranged between the Government and those representing the different farming intrests."