OUR COMPETITOR

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 3400, 30 July 1932, Page 4

OUR COMPETITOR

THE DANE CARRIES ENORMOUS TAXES. There is a general idea that Danish farmers are a frugal, hard-work-ing lot who, in spite of their high cost of production, are happy and prosperous. But apparently they are having a worse time from cost of living and taxation burdens than Australian farmers. A Dane (Mr. J. A. Jorgensen) recently visited Denmark and on his return told something of the disabilities under which Danish farmers are labouring. He visited about 50 Danish farms, and he found that the lowest tax anyone paid was about 255. an acre, and it went up to more than £2 18s. an acre, according to the value of the land, etc. Other members of the community are taxed equally high. Anyone working pays a tax of 10 per cent, or more. A postmaster with about £6OO income paid 35 per cent, of his gross income in taxes. A lawyer with about £2OOO income paid almost 40 per cent, of his "toss income in taxes. A doctor with £9OO income paid about 30 per cent, in taxes. Many Danish farmers declared they were being taxed off their farms. One striking feature is the Danish farm home, says Mr. Jorgensen, with the luxurious and well-kept vegetable garden, as well as the fruit trees and berry bushes in the gardens. The Danes know how to keep fowls, and with the use of pigs from tested sows, well supplement their income from butter-fat while they live cheaper and better than the fanners of this country, the majority of whom neglect their own tables.