UNEMPLOYMENT TAX

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 256, 25 July 1930, Page 4

UNEMPLOYMENT TAX

Request For Exemption TIMBER GROWERS’ CASE Exemption from unemployment taxation was asked for. by a deputation from the Timber Growers’ Association winch waited upon the Commissioner of State Forests, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, yesterday. Members of the deputation pointed out that timber growers themselves were relieving unemployment, and in his reply the Minister said that while he could not commit the Government upon a policy matter, he would give them any assistance which he could. Mr. W. Fraser, heading the deputation, said that since 1925 the operations ol forestry companies had resulted in the distribution of wages and salaries of not less than a million pounds, and of this probably three-quarters of a million represented payments during the season when distress occasioned by general tinemployment was the greatest between .Tune and September. “The work we are doing is making profitable lands hitherto waste, and will justify the provision of facilities which must result in further general development of the country. At the present moment we are happily working with the State Forest Service, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and other organisations on the research side, and we believe that as the soundness of our industry becomes more generally recognised, all sections of the community will combine to give security in connection with this development. Nothing could more retard the development as uncertainty as to taxation.” Dr. W. 11. Horton spoke in support. Mr. Ransom said that lie recognised that theirs was one of the primary industries of the Dominion, and anything which could be done to assist them would be done. “I am not in a position to speak upon a policy matter,” he said.