REVISION OF TAXATION

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27669, 27 May 1955, Page 7

REVISION OF TAXATION

I CALL BY FARMERS’ CONFERENCE

abolition of death

DUTIES URGED (New Zealand Press Association) WANGANUI, May 26.' A resolution calling for the Gov-c-nment to abolish death duties immediately. and to set up a Parliamentary committee to consider the incidence of taxation was carried unanimously at the conference of the Wairarapa, Wellin°ton Central. Wanganui, Manawatu, and M4^ara- Hutt provinces of Federated Farmers, which ended at Wanganui this afternoon. The text of the resolution was: “This Conference believes the country to be handicapped seriously by the operation of excessive taxation, both direct and indirect, and recommends to the Government, as a first step toward both the adjustment of taxation and the removal of inequities, the immediate cancellation of death duties and the setting uo of a Parliamentary committee to consider the whole incidence of taxation. " Moving the adoption of the motion, Mr K- M. Little (Wellihgton Central) said that manv county valuations had Hjcreased by from 100 to 150 per cent, and this would cause a considerable increase in death duties. He considered the Government could make an immediate gesture to the community by the cancellation of death duties, said Mr Little. The country was in a prosperous condition, and the Government could well carry on without the taxation. Seconding the motion, Mr L. Daniells (Masterton) said death duties affected every taxpayer. The working man in the town was just as much affected as the farmer. In England, death-duties had chased Earls out of their castles. Mr Daniells said he could cite instances where mortgages of £50,000 to £60.000 had to be raised to keep families on their farms.