FARMERS’ AFFAIRS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 May 1939, Page 6

FARMERS’ AFFAIRS

THE INTER=PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE INCIDENCE OF HOSPITAL TAXATION. SUPPORT FOR STATE LOTTERIES. The incidence of hospital rating was given full prominence at the InterProvincia. Conference of the Farmers’ Union today, when the following remit was carried unanimously: — “That the present system of hospital rating is entirely inequitable and this conference urges that the contribution be based on income as in the case of the Social Security Act. We stress the principle of ability to pay, and taxation should be levied accordingly.” Supporting the remit Mr H. Bennett said it was obvious that the present hospital rating system was unsatisfactory. Hospital rating should be based on ability to pay. Some property owners were paying as high as 26 per cent and in five years’ time they would be paying as high as 50 per cent. Of the total hospital levies paid by Wairarapa local bodies, country councils contributed 80.31 per cent. Mr L. T. Daniell said the proposal in the remit was the only fair and reasonable way of raising taxation.

VIEWS ON LOTTERIES. Speaking to a proposal that State lotteries be instituted to relieve the burden of hospital taxation, Mr J. T. Kent said the churchs were against lotteries. Every three years, however, there was the Parliamentary sweepstakes. for which a number of parsons stood. • some of whom only had a hundred to one chance. Mr T. Currie said lotteries seemed an easy way of raising money and he did not think that young people would be led astray Mr R. O. Montgomerie said it was not a very courageous way of dealing with the problem. It would only be shuffling out of their responsibilities and. handing them on to someone else. Several delegates referred to the “flood of money going out of New Zealand for lotteries.” That money, they said, should be kept in the country. Mr H. J. McLeavey strongly supported the remit. The gambling element,; he said, was in all of us and the attempt to suppress it would breed corruption. For the sake of the rising generation he would like to see gambling placed on a higher pedestal. After some further discussion the following remit on the subject was carried: “That the Government be requested to run State lotteries along the same lines as the New South Wales Government, thereby keeping the money in the country and assisting to lighten the burden of the taxpayers, and that the proceeds, less overhead costs, be used for the purpose of relieving the levies paid by local bodies to hospitals.” TAXATION ANOMALY. “It is most unjust that we are not allowed to deduct land tax,” observed Mr H. Bennett when referring to the following remit, which was carried: — “That the Union ask the Government to deduct land tax when assessing income tax.” LOANS & INTEREST RATES. “That in order to rehabilitate the : settlers who have vacated their farms, i or are about to do so, this conference ; urges the Government to make avail- i able adequate finance at minimum ; rates of interest,” was a remit which ; found ready support and was carried. i CLEARING BY MACHINERY. . “This is a valuable suggestion and it would be the cheapest way of clearing certain types of land,” said Mr R. O. . Montgomerie when supporting the following remit: “That this conference ' ask the Government to make available to private land owners the lands clearing scheme operated by the Pub- 1 lie Works Department.” Opinions were somewhat divided it > being contended that although the work would be done quickly and well ' the cost would be prohibitive. Private J contractors, it was stated, could do the ' work much cheaper. Mr C. C. Jackson: “If the machinery is so good why has the Government 1 refused to purchase it?” ( The chairman, Mr Lloyd Hammond, 1 pointed out that the Government al- t ready had a scheme whereby it sub- t sidised up to 75 per cent develop- ; mental work on farms.

Mr R. McKinstry said it was difficult to obtain the Government subsidy. He knew of one man who had his application in for three months., After some further- discussion the following amendment, was carried In place of the motion: —“That the Government make available a subsidy of not less than 75 per cent of the labour costs of development work on second and third class land and that machinery be made available where necessary.” PRICE FOR DAIRY PRODUCE. “It is only a reasonable and just request,” summed up the consensus of opinion on the following remit, which was carried: —“That the payment for butterfat for the coming season be at 1 least the figure recommended, last year by the Advisory Committee, plus any costs accruing since; and that this conference will whole-heartedly support any action the Union may see fit to take, to bring about this objective and the Union continue to co-operate with the Dairy Board and the National Dairy Federation.” Other remits carried dealing , with dairy produce were as follow: —“That the Government take production at 240 lbs per cow as recommended by the Advisory Committee, as a base for the guaranteed price for 1939/40 season ; and “When the price for dairy produce is fixed for the year, there shall be no increased cost to the producers during the time that fixed price is operating.” “That this conference is against the compulsory pooling of bobby calves," was a remit moved by the Waverley delegates. BOBBY CALF POOL. Mr W. J. Thomas said that bobby calf pools were most valuable and they certainly lightened the cost of collection. There was no measure of compulsion about the pools. Other speakers said that in open competition in districts where there were no pools a much higher price was received for the calves.

Mr Hammond said the calf pool was one of the best pieces of legislation the Government had brought down. It was a voluntary and co-operative scheme and those in it had complete control. In cases whore higher prices were received those were paid at the expense of someone else. The following amendment to the

motion was carried: —“That the conference supports the voluntary pooling of bobby calves.” The conference at this stage went into committee to discuss membership and other domestic matters.