FARMERS' INTERESTS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 18 July 1923, Page 7

FARMERS' INTERESTS.

j A SYMPATHETIC GOVERNMENT; j (BY TELEGRAPH -PRESS ASSOCIATION.) j I WELLINGTON, July 18. ! Speaking at the annual conf^ence of the Council of Agriculture to-day, Mr. Massey said he had always thought the 1 proper thing for the Government to do was to assist the primary producers in every possible way. In doing so the Government was assisting the whole community. That was the line he had taken and. was endeavouring to fellow now. As the result of the increases in our primary,products and our exports the country was in a good position today compared with other countries. New Zealand was now in a position to be envied. Last year we reduced our indebtedness by a million and a half, which ivas something to be proud of. In eleven years we had doubled our exports, which now totalled £47,000,000. ; He pointed to the splendid position of our revenue and the revenue produc- ' ing assets. The. application of Nauru phosphates had materially assisted in- . creased production. With regard to adi yances to settlers the Government was !in a much better position to assist ■' settlers to-day than twelve months ago. i The amount that could be advanced j would be increased under new legislation from £2000 to £3500. Legislartion would be submitted to Parliament ■ to put soldiers on land in a much better position than they occupied to-day. We should, as far as possible remove taxation imposed for war purposes, and he hoped to reduce the 7s 4d maximum income tax to ss.