DERATING OF FARM LANDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21580, 26 August 1933, Page 15

DERATING OF FARM LANDS

Sir, —The rating of farm land has long passed the experimental stage and is now in operation in the colonies and several European countries. Apparently it was not law in Denmark until an organisation of 130,000 farmers forced the Government to give legal effect to their demands. The derating of farm land is one of the many crazes that the depression has brought to light in New Zealand. In your issue of August 10 a letter by Mr. F. W. Walters bears the brand of commonsense. As one who has paid large sums in rates, land taxes and other taxes, he has every reason to give the matter the deep thought which his letter bears out. The figures for cartage he quotes are substantially the same as those many farmers have to pay. Had Mr. Mellsop read the address of Mr. Joll, M.P., to the Counties' Association ho may have modified the opinions expressed in his letter. The derating of farm land Is an idiotic conception for a countiy like New Zealand, where all taxation comes off the land. What alternative suggestion do the disciples of derating oiler in regard to maintenance of roads i There is no mention of the millions of pounds due by county councils who, as trustees, are morally and legally responsible for such debts. We cannot deny that the underlying •principle of civilisation is sanctity of contract. Is this money to be confiscated or are these debts to be repudiated by those who cry "derate"? Until this ghost is laid it may do farmers a lot of harm. In May last a deputation oi farmers waited on the Raglan County Council with a request that £2OOO be borrowed for a special are_a. They were naively informed that the council had been trying for two years to borrow £6OO and had not succeeded. The deputation was further informed that the propaganda of derating was causing investors to keep clear of local body securities. Much is said of benzine taxa. tion. Was. there ever such a rotten foundation for taxation? A political match might explode it any day. It jnerolv needs a popular politician in proclaim the derating of benzine and the whole country would follow and the front-rankers would be those who now proclaim "derate farm land. There are always some to be carried away by every wind of doctrine and who have the limelight for the sake of the glow. Mr. Mellsop is certain derating will be one of the leading questions at the next general election. It is certainly to be hoped that the matter will be relegated to oblivion before then. No sane Government would ever consider such a system and were it ever to come to pass, then the man on the land will pay twice as much in taxation as he does to-day. He will receive no benefit, but, on the contrary, great injury* Mag&lu