A TAX ON PRODUCTION

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 184, 7 August 1939, Page 2

A TAX ON PRODUCTION

Increased Cost of Petrol FARMERS’ UNION BRANCH MEETING A resolution to apply for an additional rebate of 4d per gallon on petrol used for agricultural purposes was carried unanimously at a wellattended meeting of the Woodville branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ L T nion on Saturday evening. The newly imposed increase on the petrol tax was considered to bo capablo of adversely uffecting production from the land. The president, Mr. J. C.. Bolton, was in the chair and some 20 members were present. Mr. Edgar Harding raised the question of the petrol tax. The chairman thought a protest would be in order, because a tax for defence should be a tax on everybody. The new tax would tend to restrict the uso of farm machinery and therefore production. v Mr. Harding said it was a direct tax on production, as the cost could not be handed on. An invitation was received from the Young Farmers’ Club for members to attend a showing of films by the Department of Agriculture at a young farmers' meeting on Monday evening. The invitation was accepted. Guaranteed Price In reply to Mr. Oxenuam, Mr. Bolton said the conference had passed a motion in support of the principle of the guaranteed price for dairy produce. It was rejected for meat and wool. The decision, he said, had beeu rather cleverly turned for political purposes, to try to show' that the uniou disapproved of it. Messrs. L. E. Gleadow aud D. W. Dunford were elected new members. Reference was made to a recent meeting of representatives of several branches of production. The chairman said that no definite steps had yet been announced but a wider federation of farmers was likely and the union might lose its present identity. An interesting talk was then given by Mr. C. J. Bell, ot Dannevirke, on the tanners’ place in the community. Mr. Bell based bis address on a paper prepared some time ago by Sir William Hunt.

Introducing tho speaker, Mr. Bolton said previous Governments had not recognised tho valuo of tho farmer, and the present Goverumcnt was no exception. A Cabinet Minister had lately said that the farmer was not the backbone of the country, but only the ribs. Mr. Bell’s talk, said Mr. Bolton, would perhaps show more clearly to the farmer himself just what his functfon in life was.

Later Mr. Bell was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.