THE SUPER LAND TAX.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19812, 27 December 1929, Page 8

THE SUPER LAND TAX.

DIARY NOTES OF A STOCK AND STATION AGENT.

notps authentic cases of hardship which arc the result of the Tfcrnt leei<l*tion imposing Super Tax on land. They are supplied by a reputable firm.] XXVI. Mr Z. My caller was very eloquent on the special land tax lor which so many Canterbury landowners arc now liable. After a lifetime spent in very hard work on a back country station, he handed this over to his son. leasing to the latter a considerable portion ol hits holding. He paid gift duty t-o the Government, on the value of the gift portion, and then purchased a smaller eiiiily managed farm on which he hoped to live comfortably. Now has come the bolt from the blue! His assessable income from his farm was under £SO last year, yet lie has been assessed for land tax for a sum exceeding £'2oo. This tax, of coarse, includes the land leased to hi,s son on which the latter has to pay income tax on any profits he may earn.

He enquires whether the present land tax methods are likely to induce owners to let their properties to their sons, and thus encourage increased production. He considers young men are being discouraged instead of being encouraged and attracted toward farming.