BURDEN OF CHARGES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 5 July 1939, Page 5

BURDEN OF CHARGES

REAL CAUSE OF FARMERS’ TROUBLES PASSIVE RESISTANCE" ONLY REMEDY 1 United Press Association) HAMILTON, 4th July. “The numerous and in some cases excessive demands of taxation taken from the primary producer, from the value of his raw product from the time it leaves the farm until its return in the shape of manufactured goods, and the small amount left to distribute to him. coupled with high added costs, is the real cause of the farmer's troubles. His necessity to protect himself from these unequal and added charges was the reason for my suggesting that ‘passive resistance’ to taxation demands was the only remedy left for the farmer to employ,” stated Mr W. Harbutt, chairman of the Cambridge Dairy Company, in an interview upon his return from the National Dairy Federation Conference in Wellington.

Mr Harbutt said that it may have, been inferred from Press reports from Wellington regarding his statement on the subject of passive resistance that the guaranteed price, or the price that would be paid to the farmer for the coming season, was the main point of his remarks. He wished to correct that impression, and said that had he been reported more fully it would plainly be recognised that added costs and increased taxation were his greatest fears for the future of the farmer. “That, counled with the guaranteed price and the primary producer’s capacity to pay the extra burdens, is a question of serious moment, which is now giving responsible people in the Dominion the gravest anxiety," added Mr Harbutt. In making the statement that the farmer, to protect himself from the unequal and added charges, should adopt an attitude of passive resistance to taxation, Mr Harbutt was guided, he said, by experience and public opinion. At another conference he attended recently the discussion on remits bearing on what he had stated were practically unanimously in favour of direct action to remedy in some way the primary producers’ present position and their fears for the future. “Whatever suggestion I have made." added Mr Harbutt. “may be taken in conjunction with the statement made by the Minister of Marketing to the Federation of Labour last Easter and repeated to the Dairy Board Conference. The Minister said on those occasions: "In my political fight for Labour I have always asked for more, and I have now to ask them not to ask for more.”