DERATING RURAL LANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21098, 4 February 1932, Page 8

DERATING RURAL LANDS.

INCREASE IN PUBLIC FAVOUR.

LOWER PETROL PRICES URGED

[bi* telegraph.—press association.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday.

The executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union to-day reaffirmed support for the principle of derating farm lands and urged the Government to bring about a reduction in the price of petrol, thus increasing consumption and providing more revenue from the tax for expenditure upon roads.

Mr. W. J. Poison, M.P., the president, said the derating proposal was growing in public favour, and the sympathy of the Government had been shown by a rebate of per cent, on general rates on rural lands last year. The country should tell the oil companies that they would not be allowed to come and trade in New Zealand unless they were satisfied with a reasonable profit. The following motion was carried:— That this executive urges upon the Government that it should proceed with the derating of farm lands for roading purposes, and that it should regulate the price of petrol by refusing to allow oil companies to charge extortionate rates for oil, thus enabling the consumer to benefit by reduced prices for petrol, and the producer, by expenditure on roading of the proceeds of an adequate petrol tax.