TAX ON OIL ENGINES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 50, 1 March 1922, Page 8

TAX ON OIL ENGINES.

FARMERS COMPLAIN. INOPPORTUNE TIME FOR INCREASE. Remits for the next provincial conference of the Farmers' Union are being received by country cub-provincial districts, for forwarding on to the Auck(land office. The executive of the Kaipara sub-provincial district reported receipt of several, dealing with matters at present agitating the minds of farmers, at a recent executive meeting. They were ac follows:— MAROHEMO. That seeing country children do not have' opportunities of attending secondary -schools, and present laws demand a knowledge of 'bookkeeping, the Government be asked to make bookkeep-; ing a compulsory subject in the fifth and sixth standards at primary schools., MAUNGATUROTO. That this branch protests against the increased tax on oil engines, especially in respect to engines used in dairying and shearing, on account of the low price of fontter and wool. Thie district considers the time is inopportune to raiee the tax on anything connected with pro-, duction or t>». land. KAIPARA FLATS. That the Government be requested to pay interest on all money overpaid in taxes. Instances were quoted where faTmers had been overcharged and overpaid their taxes, and between the time of paying and the refund no interest had been allowed, while on the other hand a heavy rate of.interest k piled on those who do not pay on due date.

Branches of the Kaipara sub-provincial district are reminded that remits for provincial conference must reach the subpro vincial office, not later than March 22.

A draft of the conditions governing the rural mail service was considered., It was resolved to confirm a remit passed by the conference, that all rural mails should be free and adequate. Correspondence wae read from the Auckland Executive re setting up of a Railway Board to take over the railways from political control. The letter was received and principle ajßrmed, the following suggestion being offered: "That the work of construction of the permanent ways should be carried out by thd board, and not by the Public Works Department, as it is evidenced by the present system the duplication of administration entails a large amount of unnecessary expense, which could •be saved if these ways were constructed by administration, resulting in a great saving to the Dominion."