FARMERS AND TAXATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20723, 17 November 1930, Page 11

FARMERS AND TAXATION.

DERATING ADVOCATED. VIEWS OF MR. H. M. RUSHWORTH. [BY TEEEfiR APH. OWN COR R EPTONDENT. ] DRURY, Saturday. "The time has come when tho Farmers' Union must be used as a weapon, but to make it an effective weapon it will need to have the support of all farmers," said Mr. H M. Rushworth, MP., in addressing a meeting at Drurv last evening. There was an attendance of about 70 farmers. Mr. D. A Binglev, president of the Drurv branch of the Farmers' Union, which hail convened tho meeting, presided

The speaker claimed that thp union was thp onlv organisation in existence which was doing anything to prpvpnt the working farmers of New Zpaland from being reduced to conditions approaching serfdom.

"We arp told," he said, "that we have paid too much for our land, but it. is not the [.rice of the land that is hitting usIt. is tlie cost of production." Mr. Ru.shworfh went on to say that the necessities of life were taxed. Sixty per cent, of tlip people did not. pay thesp taxes, hut passed llipm on to the working farmer. The union was urging that taxes on necessities be lightened, and also that a move be. made for the derating of farm lands. Mr. Hush worth said Canada, South Africa and Denmark, and, in fact, all New Zealand's competitors in dairying products had adopted derating of their farm lands. This fact placed New Zealand under a severe handicap, and made competition from the other countries more difficult to meet. The high rate ol loan moneys, also, added to the cost of production, said Mr. Rush worth. He claimed that the rate charged at present was 2 per cent, too high" People with capital would not put money into farm land, and he did not blame them. Speaking of the. Unemployment Act, Mr. Rushworth said the union was not opposed to the purpose of the Act, but to the method of raising the money. Farmers' Union supporters in Parliament would press for a repeal of the Act. The money should be raised by a tax on luxuries.