CANTERBURY FARMERS' POLITICAL PLATFORM.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3126, 28 July 1892, Page 3

CANTERBURY FARMERS' POLITICAL PLATFORM.

The Farmers' and Country Settlers' met at Christohurah on 13th July. Eighty were present. Mr (j. McMillan presided, and resolutions were adopted to the following effect :—(l) That the League will oppose all class legislation as a violation of the rights of all citizens to equal laws ; (2) will oppose all attempts to put heavier State burdens upon the owners of land, and other taxes upon owners of other kinds of property ; (3) denounces as dishonest aDd a national breach of faith any proposals to nationalise lands owned by private citizeca without paying fair compensation for them ; (4) declares that the imposition of a progressive tax on owners of land while exempting ownere of money from progressive taxation is class legislation, hostile to farmers and landowners, and a violation of their rights to equal laws ; (5) declares that it is unjust and oppressive to compel mortgagors'of land to pay progressive taxes upon the mortgagees interest in their land; (6) that this League views with just alarm those provisions of the Land and Income Tax of IS9I which tax farmers and country settlers so much more heavily than town dwellers and money lenders with equal means to pay taxes; (7) condemns any system of taxation which will have the effect of unfairly diminishing the fund for employing agricultural labourers, and considers that (ho present Land Tax Act will cause manifestly unfair diminution of euch wage fund without giving any corresponding advantage to them; (8) declares it is unprincipled and dishonest for politicians to advocate that any class of citizens able to pay taxes should not pay their fair share of taxes required to be levied for the necessaries of tbe community ; (9) declares that it is unjust for dwellers in towns to have the right to have three votes while country settlers have only one vote for the election of Parliamentary representatives ; (10) that the League will take every means in its power to forward the abovo views, and to assist in promoting the rights and interests of the farming community. It was divided to publish the programme through the colony, and Rend copies to County Councils and Road Boards, with a request that they will organise similar Leagues with a view to send delegates to the meetinsr, and consult as to united action ; also to form branches throughout Canterbury.