THE FARMER'S BURDEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 120, 23 May 1928, Page 8

THE FARMER'S BURDEN.

TAXATION AND COMMISSION.

WHO OWNS THEIR DAIRY PRODUCE ?

REPRESENTATION ON THE BOARD.

(By Telegaph—Own Correspondent.)

HAMILTON, this day.

The company tax is one of the greatest burdens put o* farmers, said a delegate to the Fanners' Provincial Conference t.W morning. The remit under discussion was: "That the conference makes strong representations to the Auctioneers' Association of Hamilton, to reduce commission rates on stock to those ruling before last increase."

One speaker said that the tax was 8/9 in the-pound, and had been as great as 12/6 in the pound. This prevented 4ny accumulation of profits.

Several delegates who are of co-operative auctioneering companies, pointed out that companies could not reduce commission rates, and found it hard to carry on sometimes. After a long discussion the remit was withdrawn.

Objection to high commission rates charged by the Auckland Woolbrokers' Association was embodied in a remit presented by the Taumarunui branch.

Mr. Stanton (Taumarunui) said the rates in Auckland should be brought into line with those ruling in other parts of the island.

Mr. Giles contended that a flat rate should be charged everywhere. The rate in Southern centres was 2$ per cent for the first £500, and 1£ per cent for greater sums. The same reduction should be made for all classes of wool at Auckland.

Mr. Stanton said the remit was not intended to make a distinction between small and large growers, but only to stabilise selling centres.

Mr. McConochie's amendment: "That a flat rate of 2 per cent be charged," was lost, and the amended remit was carried as follows: "That commission Tates charged by the Auckland Woolbrokers' Association should be at the same level as outside Auckland Province." Is dairy produce the property of dairy farmers ? was raised by discussion on a remit from the Waikato SubProvince (Cambridge branch): "This conference considers thatj as the produce handled is the property only of dairy farmers, the New Zealand Dairy Produce Board should consist only of members elected by the dairy producers." Captain Rushworth said it appeared/ 1 that dairy produce was the property of the mortgagee. (Laughter.) "Yes, it sounds like a joke," he added, "but this argument has been advanced in Parliament over and over again. The Government is the biggest mortgagee, and should, therefore, be represented on the board." The remit was carried. The conference decided that the Swamp Drainage Act should be amended to provide for appeal against classification every five years; that the basis of the land drainage rating be a rate acre according to classification. A Cambridge remit was carried as amended, thus: "Recognising the imperative need for reducing costs of production and the close bearing the present high protective Customs taxation has to such costs on the necessities of life and the means of production, the conference urgently calls upon the Government to immediately reduce Customs taxation of J a protective nature.''^.