Farmers air tax fears

Press, 29 January 1986, Page 2

Farmers air tax fears

PA Wellington Leaders of livestock farming organisations met the Minister of Finance, Mr Douglas, yesterday to express opposition at aspects of proposed changes to taxation of livestock. The delegation included the president of the Deer Farmers’ Association, Mr John Burrowes, the president of the Mohair Producers’ Association, Mr Richard MacDonald, and Federated Farmers’ president, Mr Peter Elworthy. The delegation’s leader, Mr Elworthy, said later that the delegation told

the Minister of its strong concern at the retrospective nature of the proposed changes. Other aspects causing concern were the taxation of unrealised income, the uncertainty which the proposals were causing in the marketplace, and the lack of confidence which this was causing in farming. He said the Minister did not accept the delegation’s request that the proposals be set aside to allow the industry and the Government to review the taxation position for farming and then decide

whether changes were required. However, Mr Douglas did indicate he would be prepared for the consultative committee to adopt a flexible attitude in preparing recommendations to achieve the Government’s taxation objectives. Sectors involved in the delegation would prepare detailed submissions to present to the consultative committee, indicating deficiencies in the proposals and proposing alternative ways the Government’s objectives could be achieved, Mr Elworthy said.