GUARANTEE TO FARMERS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29367, 21 November 1960, Page 11

GUARANTEE TO FARMERS

Marlborough is still dominantly a farming province, but when it comes to a guarantee of a standard of living the farming community is invariably by-passed. Under Social Credit this would be remedied by providing the farmer with a guarantee of his costs plus a fair reward for his services on a basis equivalent to the rest of New Zealand. Another barrier to the progress of farming in the district is the deterrent effect of death and gift duties. Production is retarded when farmers have the spectre of disinheritance hanging over their heads. Social Credit intends to eliminate death duties on estates up to £20,000 and increase this still further in the event of the family continuing to farm the property for a period of seven years. Exemptions up to £lOOO in any one year on gift duty would do much to restore security of tenure to farmers and encourage the rural family unit—so vital to the future welfare of any nation or district. Transport’s Place An important feature of Marlborough is its widespread terrain and the great importance of transport to both farming and business. Great benefit would accrue to the Marlborough community from the reduction in price of petrol to 3s a gallon, the removal of the 30-mile restriction on road transport, reduction in sales tax on private vehicles and its abolition on commercial vehicles. However, it is abundantly clear that the future development of the Marlborough province depends on the full utilisation of its undoubted natural and physical resources. The great potential of the district is still largely untapped. With Wellington and Christchurch now subject to excessive urban sprawl, in the near future industry will be seeking room for expansion nearer the geographic centre of New Zealand. Marlborough is the logical choice with ample land and excellent communication facilities by road, rail and air. To provide a wider field of employment for young people and to stop their drift to larger cities it is absolutely necessary to attract industry. The tourist potential of the Marlborough Sounds, Nelson Lakes National Park and the Kaikoura coast is hardly scratched, and under a Social Credit economy he necessary finance to establish industry and promote tourism in the district would not be a major difficulty as it is today. Finally and probably most important for Marlborough, while I am pledged to implement the necessary monetary reform proposals of the Social Credit League, I am in all other respects an independent representative of Marlborough, and as such will give the electorate personal representation against party representation. Active and immediate steps will be taken to set up a noriparty : organisation to advise and instruct on the requirements of the Marlborough district.