PROTEST BY FARMERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20372, 28 September 1929, Page 13

PROTEST BY FARMERS.

"CREDIT ALREADY AFFECTED" DIFFICULT PERIOD AHEAD. REQUESTS TO GOVERNMENT. [it? TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. 1 WELLINGTON, Friday. 'A specially convened conference representative of the Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union and the Sheepfarmers' Federation to-day again considered the Government's taxation proposals. Tho conference reaffirmed resolutions protesting against the taxation and appointed speakors to' present its views to the Prime Minister.

Mr. W. J. Poison, M.P., president, of the Farmers' Union, who presided, pointed out that there were no amendments made to the taxation proposals in principle. The injustice lay in taxing a man "up to his eyes in mortgages." That was just tho same as when tho bill was brought down. He was satisfied that tho Government had been misled by certain of its permanent officials in bringing down hasty and ill-considered proposals that were not going to work out equitably. Mr. Poison referred to the strong feeling throughout the country, a feeling which extended to people in the cities, and lie said the farmers had a strong backing from commercial interests, which realised that a blow at the primary industries was a blow at their success. He said he was unable to understand the figures the Prime Minister had given; there must be a very much larger proportion of farmers affected than the number suggested by the Commissioner of Taxes. He considered the farmers were justified in asking for a reconsideration of the whole measure.

Mr. I?. D. Dux-field thought the conference 'vould be justified in asking that the proposals should stand over for some time. It was hopeless to try and secure an amendment. He moved accordingly. Mr. J. H. John, who seconded the motion, referred to the lack of sympathy shown to the farmer.

Mr. J. S. Jessep said the credit, of the farmers had been affected already by the suggestions. Why money invested in rural land alone should be singled out for special taxation he could not say. The effect would be to cause further depression in the farming community, which with falling prices would make the next 12 months a very difficult period to tide over.

Mr. Poison said all they could hope to do was to secure some amendments that would make the proposals less harsh. "It is no use fooling ourselves," he said. " The measure is going through in some form or other."

The following motion was carried:— " That this conference re-affirms its dissatisfaction with the proposals of the Land and Income Tax Amendment Bill and expresses dissatisfaction with the proposed amendments. It asks the Prime Minister to incorporate the resolutions passed by the primary producers on August 22 in further amending legislation, and that this legislation be not made retrospective."