PROTEST BY FARMERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8308, 20 December 1912, Page 4

PROTEST BY FARMERS

DISCUSSION ON HIDE DUTY AND LAND TAX. Tress \ Association. HAW ERA. December 19. At a meeting of the Taranaki provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union today the proposal of the Bootmakers’ Union, that instead of increased duty on boots and shoes an export duty should be placed on hides, was discussed. A motion was carried that the executive is strongly opposed to any export duty being placed on hides or any other primary products. The executive considered recent amendments to the Land Acts, and all members except one stated that tho present system of land •taxation was unsatisfactory. It was decided to refer the following resolution from the Opunake branch to the Dominion executive: That as the present system of valuing land fpr taxation purposes has proved a failure owing to the impossibility of accurately separating the improved value, this ’ conference considers a much fairer and much simpler way would be to tax on the annual value • with the same exemptions. As to capital invested in other industries, the annual value to be 5 per cent, of the capital value.”