FARMERS' PROTEST "NO MORE TAXATION" THE UNION CONFERENCE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 28, 1 August 1912, Page 4

FARMERS' PROTEST "NO MORE TAXATION" THE UNION CONFERENCE.

Tl» Farmers'' Union Conference continued business after The Post went to press yesterday. Mr. Leadley presided. Mr..H. D. Va.va6our (Blenheim) moved I that a strong protest should be made i and forwaided to the Government against any increase in tho land tax. H« described the farming community as tho gooeo that laid the golden egg. If the taxes heaped upon the fanners were further increased (and the late Government certainly Bhowed a. tendency towards increased taxes), the gpoee would certainly be killed. Everything in New Zealand depended upon tho farmer. If there were any more taxation it would not only be au injustice to the faxnier, but also do an injury to the workers as a whole. The thinjj wa6 so palpable that it was now high time that tho tendency to increase taxation ehould be put down. Farmers should firmly and emphatically oppose further taxation, and if they chose to do that then the Government muetv take notice of their attitude and opposition. . ' Mr. A. M'Kay strongly supported tho motion.. It was quite clear to him that tho farmer, the producer, was the man, upon whom the . welfare ■of the country depended, and it. was he, too, who was- exploited. Mr. Mathieson suggested that farmers ehould not bother about the twig of the I poisonous, tree, but take tlieir coats off and cut the tree down. The resolution was but a twig of the poisonous tree. He moved an amendment to the effect that the resolution should be so altered as ib read that the conference should forward its strong protest against the iland tax altogether. Mr. 'Vavasour said his motion recognised that there must be taxation, but the taxation had gone far enough. The motion would- strengthen the hands of the Government. The Government had an idea, he understood, to put no more burdens on tho farmers; but it might be that some people in Parliament might feel inclined to put a little more on, and so on and on. The amendment waa lost, and the motion carried. The chairman took the opportunity of stating that ho thought the motion should not have been put, as it , might embarracs the' Government. Replying to/ a member, he said notice of motion to rescind it could be given after the meeting. NATIVE LANDS. Mr. Maxwell (Taranaki) moved— "That nil Nativo lands shall be placed on the same footing for taxation -purposee, both local and general, a<s lands held by Europeana, and all lands not required for th© Natives' own use be purchased by tho Government, and offered on tho optional system." Natives (with very i'ow exceptions) were simply squatting 6u their lands, growing potatoes and catching fish, and thoir lands wero ', permitted to grow seeds of noxious weeds. Settlers had to go to tho expense of main and by-road-ing and pay the rates, while, the Natives paid nothing at all. Surely, if the Legislature took land from Euro- j peans to cut up for closer settlement, j it could take land that was in occupation of but uncultivated by Natives. Mr. Richards (Wellington) saidj that, | although local bodies had the power to strike tho rato and levy it on the Maoris, yet there was no power to enforce tho payment of the rato on Maoris. Major Lusk (Auckland) instanced the attempted recovery of rates from Maoris in the County of Raglan, which cost more to collect than the money collected amounted to. , ' '■ Tho motion was carried. MORTGAGE TAX. The conference then passed to ' the consideration of the mortgage tax. 'Mr. Evans (North Canterbury) moved that the Government be asked to amend tho law- on the mortgage tax, so that tho income derived' from the mortgage should be subject to taxation. Mr. Richards said the tax pressed most unjUßtly, on persons of limited means. It was .most unjust to tax capital let out in small amounts. The tax amounted to about 6 per cent, on tho income. The man that borrowed tho money had j to pay the tax. , Mr. James Begg (Otago) moved, as ■ an amendment — "That 'the Government bo requested to grant an exemption of £500, to bring the mortgage tax in liuo with -the land tax." Captain Colbeck (Auckland) suggested that it would be; wi'eer to move for tho abolition of tho tax altogether. Ho moved, as a further amendment, that the Government be requested to abolish tho mortgage tax. Mr. Begg withdrew his amendment. FinaUy, the motion as originally moved was carried, Mr. -' Begg'e amendment being withdrawn.