SHEEPFARMERS’ REQUESTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 29 August 1929, Page 5

SHEEPFARMERS’ REQUESTS.

DjjRUTATION. TO PRIME Alt MSI r.U. DISCUSSION ON TAXATION. llij JUeitrgmjjii- rrtfib AbsoCiaLioii.j WELLINGTON, Aug. 29. A deputation waited an Sir Joseph Ward irom tbe tefieeipowuers' Federation to ask that a levy be imposed on sneap farmers to provide- funds for research work and tor tile advertising ol wool, so as to combat falling prices and artificial rivals. snr Joseph, said that the Government was prepared to draft such a Bill. I'iie deputation also onered a .protest against the taxation proposed on laun lands, and endorsed resolutions of the farmers’ conference.

Sir Joseph said that tile Government did not want to do. anything, unfair, with regard to taxation, it had moved as it had done because, without a certain amount of revenue coming from the land, it could not make 'bot-h ends meet. The Government wanted to avoid any incongruities and was prepared to go into tne matter. It did not want to press the small or average farm with the legislation it proposed. He was guided in land values largely by the Commissioner of Taxes, and with the commissioner lie had gone into the matter very fully before submitting it in the Budget to his colleagues for consideration. if the Government abandoned its proposals for taxation, it would have to introduce another system and ask the same .people te pay it. The Government could not have such a deficit as existed without taking steps to make it up.. If it did not, then at the end of next year it would have to put murderous taxation upon the people of the country to make -both ends meet. There were other countries which were having great difficulty in doing that. The deputation might be right in its views* but lie reminded them that there were other opinions.