TAXES AND OVERHEAD

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 127, 31 May 1928, Page 7

TAXES AND OVERHEAD

THE FARMER'S BURDENS \ (By Teleflraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") PALMERST.ON N., This Day. The .Farmers' Union conference at Melding yesterday was of the opinion that unless taxation and overhead charges on tho land are considerably reduced, finance made more readily available at lower rates of interest, and public thrift and economy and retrenchment applied when produce piices fall,, fanning industry will be in danger of extinction. "AYe know that -throughout the country things with the farmer are not altogether in too good a way," said Mr. M'Gregor, in moving the remit, The farmer of New Zealand was competing successfully with every country in the world in the matter ot quality of produce and the object of the remit was tv bring before the authorities tho heavy overhead charges which hampered production. Something should be douo to reduce thesq overhead charges and generally to provide more ready and cheaper finance for the farmer. Mr. Belton, -who sbconded the remit, said that the trouble was duo to the bank rate and the Arbitration Court. Tho New Zealand Government had a unique system of taxation—tho company tax. This had driven lending institutions, off 'the market and resulted in the fanners being forced to take dear money. The tendency •of the Government had been to expend money altogether too lavishly and it all came back on the land. Tho speakei felt that the Dominion executive should prepare statistics which would show clearly the effect on the producer of the Government's expenditure. Mr. Bennett said that the farmers were always crying \lown their own credit. They disputed valuers and when they went for a loan "they got it where the cftiekeii got tho axe!" Property formating and taxation had one value and as security for lending purposes an entirely different value according to the farmer. Tho remit was carried.