Farmers ‘hardest hit’ by taxes

Press, 9 June 1977, Page 2

Farmers ‘hardest hit’ by taxes

Farmers were being faced with ever-increasing costs in areas such as freight and vehicle registration, said the acting chairman of the North Canterbury branch of Federated Farmers (Mr F. A. Bull). He found it a little difficult to understand why tractor registration had increased by almost 100 per cent, and now the National Roads Board was seeking a

similar increase in heavy traffic fees.

Mr G. N. Fraser suggested later in the meeting that rather than putting up licence fees, there should be a user-pays system based on mileage. Farmers, who pay a petrol tax of 46c, were hardest hit and are paying far more than their share for reading taxes, said Mr Bull. The recent decision by the

Wheat Board to re-test Karamu wheat, provoked discussion.

Delegates decided that when a final test is below milling grade, the load be re-tested and the average of the three tests be taken. At present only two tests are taken.

The delegates agreed that this step would even out the variability of the testing system. Mr G. Rennie told the meeting that some non-mil-ling wheat was arriving at points of delivery, and farmers were being paid a milling wheat price for the load.

Mr J. Harris said he fully supported the Wheat Board’s decision to re-test Karamu wheat. “I don’t believe in selling wheat that’s not up to standard,” he said.

Other business matters on the agenda, including the extension of the duck-shooting season, the quality of granulated superphosphate, and the potato cyst nematode, were not discussed fully, as they are in the remit papers for the Domain Conference next month.

The question of cheaper electricity for the farming industry would be discussed by the Dominion Council at its next meeting, said Mr Bull.