Farmers ask for drop in deer values

Press, 30 July 1980, Page 4

Farmers ask for drop in deer values

NZPA Timaru The Deer Farmers’ Association wants an immediate reduction in standard values for deer, the nigh level of which, it says, has created uncertainity in the industry. The association’s national president (Mr P. H. ■ Elworthy) said the association had been in touch with the Commissioner of Inland Revenue (Mr R. T. Phillips) over deer farmers’ deep concern that the high standard values were the main cause of the present depressed market for live deer. “The standard value of $7OO for red deer, the figure which we opposed so strongly when it was set, is now seen to be ridiculously high, with auction sales for red deer hinds now realising some hundreds of dollars below that level,” Mr Elworthy said.

“This has brought the

industry to a halt, as no farmer or investor is interested in purchasing deer while such an unsatisfactory situation prevails, putting severe financial strain upon investors ■ and, in particular, . the helicopter industry which has done so much to help provide the basic stock for this promising industry. “Mr Phillips now advises that his threemonthly review of the industry will be completed in mid-August, and that he would expect the standard values for deer to be revised downwards at that time should the market remain at its present level, or fall still further. “We have advised the Government and the commissioner of the extreme urgency of a -decision, so that the uncertainty under which the industry has been labouring since the standard values were arbi« trarily raised can be removed,” Mr Elworthy said.