FARM LANDS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20038, 20 September 1930, Page 14

FARM LANDS.

PARTIAL DERATING WANTED. MEETING CHANGED CONDITIONS "Derating of farm lands," one of the main planks in the Reform Party's recently announced platform, is a reform for which farming interests have been asking for some years. An explanation of what the farmers want was made to a representative of The Press yesterday. The purport of representations made to the Government on the subject by faiming organisations all over New Zealand was explained to a reporter yesterday by Mr W. H. Nicholson, secretary of the New Zealand Sheepowners' Federation. The problem, he explained, Lad been brought about by the advance of motor traction, and the development of the modern super road. These roads to-day were bping built for, and used by, the City dweller, as much as—and in many cases more than—by the farmer; therefore the farmer asked that the cost of their upkeep should be shared by all who used them. This was not at present being done, for the farmer still paid for these coun ty roads by way of rates to his bounty council, just as he did years ago, when he was almost the only person who used them, and so could be justly called on to maintain them. Partial Derating Only. It was not suggested, added Mr Nicholson, that the farmer should be relieved of ali liability, because just as it was inequitable tor him to bear the whole of thiß burden so it was equitable that he should take his fair share. Thus it w&s a partial and not a total derating that they aimed at. The movement bad gone a certain distance when the Highways Board was established, the petrol tax instituted, and certain roads taken from the control of local bodies and declared main and secondary highways. That was practising the principle that those who used the roads should pay for them; now farming interests were asking that the practice of this principle should be carried a stage further,- so that those who used the roads still under the jurisdiction of County Councils, should pay. That was the burden of (heir present complaint. Not a Benefit to Farmer. The County roads and not 4 main and secondary highways, were those referred to. The present-day improvement to these was really a luxury, which the farmer could ill afford and which he did not ask .for except perhaps for his personal convenience. Certainly most farmers had cars, but the productive value of theii land did not increase by a fraction through having high-class motor roads. leading into it. The construction of these roads thrQ.ygb the country would not make it produce <me more fat lamb ,or one extra blade of grass unless undeveloped land .were opened up, yet the farmer was being asked to pay for them not in terms of produce, but in hard cash as rates. Most of the produce of a farm in the way of stock, walked off on its own feet, lend for tLem the, new roads were actually, worse. than the old. Thirty Years Ago. Under former conditions farmers were almost the only people using the roads adjacent to theiy properties, but now there was scarcely a lane let alone a road in the. country which was not invaded by the city motorist. Mr Nicholson proceeded to show how conditions on the farm and in farming communities had themselves altered. With horse transport the horse was bred on the farm, the feed he ate was grown on the farm, the local blacksmith shod the horses, the local wheelwright repaired the drays, the local saddler provided and kept in repair the harness, while implement firms built the drays and waggons within' the Dominion. Thirty years ago,"in travelling through the country, one found, even ,in the remote country townships, thriving blacksmith, saddlery, and wheelwright businesses, employing many hands in the aggregate, each district being more of less self , contained in its requirements for transport. This meant that the product from the land was used largely to support animals used in working it; to-day it would appear that practically the whole cost of transpart by motor traction had to be met by the fanner with haid cash. The increasing use of motor tractioti, both on and off the farm, had entirely changed the position, yet the system of. rating farm lands continued unchanged from those days which were now a long way off. Great Britain had. recognised the injustice and farmers had been given relief. All that New Zealand farmers asked was that they also should be given relief. / Mr Acland's Comment. Mr H. D. Acland, president of the New Zealand Sheepowners' Federation, remarked that any reasonable Government would affirm the principle of partial derating of farm lands. He was, however, not prepared to enter into a detailed discussion, for there were many aspects to consider. Taking the question 'broadly, besides the upkeep of roads, farmer might reasonably object to the payment of a large hospital rate and other similar levies, for which some said they did not, get an adequate return. Then there was the problem of leapportioning, the taxes so that <>by lifting the injustice ftom one body of taxpayers it; was not placed on another. '