"FREE THE PRODUCER."

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 96, 24 April 1931, Page 6

"FREE THE PRODUCER."

RURAL DERATING URGED. FARMERS' SECRETARY AT HUNTLY There was a large attendance of farmers at a meeting held at Huntly on Tuesday evenirg. Mr. J. Furniss, of Ruawaro, president of the Huntly branch of the Xew Zealand Farmers' Union, introduced the speaker for the evening, Mr. A. E. Robinson, provincial secretary of the union. Mr. Robinson said it was his object to better conditions generally for farmers throughout the country. He warned them against foot-and-mouth disease amongst stock, and the admission of fresh stock from Great Britain which might endanger their herds. He said the stock in New Zealand wae not deteriorating. In dealing with farming generally, Mr. Robinson said everyone was looking for remedies for their troubles, but serving the interests of farmers was not being done at all. The politicians' song was "more production," but since 1918 export of butter had been increased fivefold, chee'se had increased nearly 50 per cent, and wool 50 per cent. He then t-poke on derating, and the effect of the petrol tax on farmers. He advocated putting on an extra Id tax on petrol. There was, he said, no reason why farmers should have to pay rates. New Zealand was almost the "only country with a rating system. Nearly all the money raised by increased taxation was absorbed on good roads, and it was the farmers who had to pay every time. The farmer received less out of the roads, and had always the most to pay. About 42,719 miles of rural roads had been formed, and 32.000 miles of county roads, at a total cost of £108,000,000, which had to be paid for by rates. Derating would put back traffic where it economically belonged. In conclusion, Mr. Robinson said: "Our job is to free farming and make the position easier for farmers throughout the country, and sensible taxation should be framed" to free the producer/'