THE SUPER LAND TAX.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19815, 31 December 1929, Page 8

THE SUPER LAND TAX.

DIARY NOTES OF A STOCK AND STATION AGENT.

[These notes describe authentic c»se» "J hardship which are the result of the r * c< '" l legislation unposin* Super Tax on lana. They are supplied by a reputable arm- J XXIX. Mr "Z.Z.Z.Z." A fellow stock and station agent called in to discuss the land tax. He showed me a list of 50 cases of hardship affecting clients of his firm. In every case it appeared *' lat tne super tax would be a heavy burdenquite inequitable in comparison with the demands on other classes of taxpayers. In most cases, the money to pay it would have to be borrowed. In some cases the tax has disturbed the mortgagees, where mortgages are running on overdue, or are .shortly to become due; and now some clients financial affairs are brought to a crisis at a time of general depression. Tn nearlv all the cases, however, it is revealed that the ordinary land tax which has been paid for years is a proportion of the net income of the farmer which is verv much higher than any direct taxation which a commercial man with a similar income would be required to pay. These 50 cases are the biggest indictment of the ordinary land tax, and the super tax I have seen. Even the little farmers who are_ now being forced to pay an extra £25 P« r annum because the exemption on their mortgages has been lowered, are going to bo forced to pinch to pay it, and it does not appear as if there is any prospect of exemption for them under the Act. . . Mv friend and competitor hoped that' nearly all his clients would get exemption.' He is something of a politician, so I asked him if he admired the wisdom with which we are now being governed. I shall not give his reply, nor his answer to my question whether he had anv buvers for land just now. -X- * *

Let us close the dinrv, to open it at a brighter page, in 1930, if possible. And God send 'is all wisdom !