TAXATION BURDENS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17844, 27 July 1921, Page 8

TAXATION BURDENS.

COMPLAINT BY FARMERS. SUPER TAX ON . -"AN UNJUST CHARGE." ALLEGED WAR-TIME PROMISE [DS |TELEQEAPH.— PnESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Tuesdiy. Various remits dealing with taxation were brought forward at the New Zealand Farmers'. Union Conference to-day. Mr. P. Colbeck (Auckland) opened the 'discussion by moving "That the Government be urged to abolish the super to on land, as it is considered an unjust charge, and was to have been abolished fix months after the war." Mr. Colbeck said taxation was very hci/vy. Companies and farmers wero both feeling the burden. Companies were paying 8s 9d in £1. Sir James Wilson: The land tax is 10s. Mr. Colbeck said the thing to do was to call on the Government to reduce its annual appropriations and to reduce the. number of persons employed in the Civil Service. ~ ~ Mr. Hugh Morrison (Mastorton) said the Government was under almost an obligation to take off the super tax. It was promised. . T , Mr. H. H. S. Ryder (Mastcrton): It is a class tax. ~ . Mr. G. Sheat (Dunsandel) said his tax bill had grown from £90 to £129 This he had to pay, notwithstanding that he had made a loss of £150 on the year s working. They bad to consider that this kind of thing was part of the price of liberty. He would sooner pay than be nadcr German rule. More could not be got from companies. They were broken "°Mr J H Joll (Havolock North) said what'had to be considered was the position of the primary producers. Why were the fanners in their present position.' Because they had allowed wealthy combines to come in and do what should never havo been allowed. Finally Mr. W. F. Poison (Fordell) moved: " That the Government bo asked to review taxation with tho following obiects —(1) The abolition of the scper tax on 'and; (2) reduction as far as possible, of the income tax on farmers' incomes. Mr. Colbeck dubbed tho amendment as Mr t V Harding (Mangawhare) hoped the amendment would bo defeated It would brand farmers as utterly selfish. Let them sav to the Government, Taxation must "bo reduced. We leave the method to you." . , Mr C. K. Wilson (Piopio) said he had often' wondered why farmers were so unpopular. The discussion provided an answer. The man hi the city with a large family must feel the pinch very severely, but he was not asking to be relieved to tho extent the farmer was doing. • Mr Poison's amendment was defeated and the original remit moved by Mr. Colbeck was carried.