COUNTY REVALUATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 24 March 1930, Page 2

COUNTY REVALUATION

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(To the Editor)

Sir, —In connection with the revaluation of the Waimea county, there is no doubt to tax necssary farm improvements is ridiculous and a hardship to farmers and one cannot protest too strongly against such ways of extorting taxes. In these times of low juices, good farming has learned a lesson—it hunts profit in lower costs. The successful farmer even adds a little to his costs in order to cut them; it maybe a hay shed instead of a stack to prevent waste, or a dairy room to keep his cream in top price condition. One does not want to take the role of common agitator but fair is fair and one must agree with J. P. I'rouse when he says "When you notice the hilarity among those who live by the Government from the politicians Avith £IOO bonus down through our bloated social services to the relief works, our latest industry, do not get angry. Be a sport, laugh with those who laugh against you and do.as other farmers who top-dress, herd-test, work daylight till dark, sweat their wives and children to carry the overburden. Some day when he has been thumped hard enough and realises how he is sold and stung he will then press the axe hard on the grindstone."

It is up to the farmers in this county to say if they are sweating themselves and families to get a few urgent improvements whether they are to be "stung" by being taxed for trying to l>n progressive and hopeful these hard limes. To penalise progress in this way cannot be tolerated, it is encouraging farmers to neglect their fences, homes and farm buildings. To be taxed lightly they are to be unthrifty and unprogressivn and unproductive, thus injuring the farming industries of this country which methods must eventually rebound in loss to both country and sellers, and is "downing" the industrious and, PROGRESSIVE. 24th March.