SHEEPOWNERS’ FEDERATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22353, 29 August 1934, Page 7

SHEEPOWNERS’ FEDERATION

ANNUAL MEETING (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 28. The annual report of the_ New Zealand Sheepowners’ Federation,’ _ which was adopted at the annual meeting today, stated, inter alia; MEMBERSHIP. Membership has remained unaltered, and the executive wishes to express its appreciation of the continued confidence shown by members during the year. In view of the immunity which sheepowners have enjoyed from restrictive fixation of cost by court awards, and the many other benefits resulting from the federations activities, 'the executive feels that there is every justification for a continuance of support from employers in the industry. FINANCE. The balance sheet shows a fairly satisfactory financial position, when it is remembered that the lias passed through a period of years of depression, possibly greater than any on record in the history of the Dominion. The executive can, with confidence, stale that, taking into account the magnitude of the interests involved, and the care that is taken to ensure to sheepowners the maximum protection possible to their interests as a whole by the federation, that no producers’ organisation in the Dominion can show better results in the interests of its members on such a low overhead cost as can our own executive. , __ ... The executive trusts that the Wellington Farmers’ Defence Committee will, as a result of the improved conditions during tlie past year, be' able, to meet its obligations to the federation in a more liberal way than has been_ the case during the last few years. Having in view the largo number of sheepowners in the Wellington province, the Advisory Board feels that therd is need for some adjustment in connection with representation of sheepowners on our federation, from the Wellington province. EXECUTIVE.

Speaking generally, unprecedented conditions have continued to prevail during the past year, and drastic action has been found' to be necessary by pur Government with a view to maintaining, as far as world conditions would allow, an equitable distribution of the national income to all sections of the commumty. The executive is fully aware of the very grave difficulties which the Government has had to meet during the year just past, and members will appreciate that, faced as it has been with the necessity to make adjustments affecting all sections of the community, it would have been almost an impossibility to have spared any one section of the community at the expense of the Dominion as a whole. Owing to the rise in the prices of woo! during last season, the Dominion has, however, experienced a partial respite from the disastrous price levels which affected our exports during the last few years, and woolgrowers have especial cause for thankfulness in this connection. There can be no question but that had the prices of the previous three seasons been repeated during the season just past, that sheepowners generally would, in most cases, have been quite unable to continue production. It may not be generally known that wool prices, taking the average of the last five years, and including the high prices received this season, show a drop of 51 per cent, over the prices realised in 1928-29, while the average prices realised for dairy produce over the same period show a drop of 36 per cent. only. It will be readily seen that had prices for wool this year remained at the level of the three preceding years, and dairy produce prices continued to decline, social conditions within the Dominion would indeed have been in a still more desperate condition than they are at the moment. The action taken with respect to importations of primary produce into England in an endeavour to assist the British farmer, and the spread of prohibition of imports of farm produce among other countries previously taking a proportion of our product, has created problems previously unheard of in the Dominion, and the executive finds it hard indeed to visualise the ultimate > effect on this Dominion should this policy of exclusiveness be persisted in. This and other momentous issues # as affecting .our industry have necessarily caused the executive deep concern, but throughout the year every effort has been made to assist the Government where possible, and also to safeguard to the fullest extent the interests of sheepowners where this could be done equitably. ; The courteous attention always given to our representations,by the Prime Minister and Cabinet,' departmental heads, chairmen and members of special Government committees connected with. our industry, and members of control boards, etc., is deeply appreciated by the executive, and although it was, of course, not possible always to agree entirely with all the measures considered necessary by the Government to meet the abnormal conditions throughout the world as they affected the Dominion, • the executive gratefully acknowledges the assistance given during the year by those mentioned, and the co-operation so generously given, without which the work undertaken on behalf of members would have beenmuch more difficult. TAXATION. The executive has continued to stress the necessity for recognition by the Government that ability. to pay is the only sound basis on which taxation can be levied, and following this principle, the executive has continued to press for the remission of land tax, the amount required to balance the withdrawal of this tax being added as additional.income tax if necessary. In view of the lessened number of registrations of unemployed under the Act it would appear reasonable to expect a reduction in unemployment taxation in the near future, and the executive will carefully watch the position with a view to making representations to the Government in due course. As doubt has been expressed by several members as to their responsibility in connection with the collection of unemployment taxation from employees on account of board and lodging, etc., and allowances to be made to shearers for shears, etc., a leaflet setting out the requirements of the department has been printed, and distributed to the various branches oti the federation, and further copies may be obtained from the secretary if required.. Representations have already been made with a view to , removing the anomaly which exists with respeet to the incidence of unemployment taxation on incomes. At the present time, in many cases where income tax is. not payable owing to heevy losses having been incurred during the two preceding years, the unemployment tax is demanded on the paper income shown, although no income tax is payable thereon. No objection is made to paying the unemployment tax on real income as assessed for income tax, but it is felt to be an injustice to levy unemployment taxation on paper income, on which it is not considered equitable to levy income tax. " . The unfair incidence of hospital ana charitable aid as a “ country is also engaging the attention of the executive. It is felt that it this were placed on a per capita basis somewhat along the lines of unemployment taxation, or made a charge on the Consolidated Funds as is education, etc,, that the incidence would be much fairer to the community as a whole. At present the executive is fully convinced that too great a proportion of this tax is levied in the country and becomes a direct charge on primary production to a greater extent than is justifiable. , ~ , , It is suggested that when the Local Body Commission is appointed by the Government evidence might bo given in each district setting out actual comparative, conditions with respect to amounts levied and service rendered as between town and country districts. , The high cost of electric current supplied to power boards in rural districts has received attention during the year, and representations have been made with a view to ensuring that this question is fully investigated by the Local Body Inquiry Commission which the Government intends to appoint in the near future. The necessity for relief in this connection is generally agreed on in view of the desirability of improving hying conditions in the country so that they may he brought more on a par with those obtaining in the towns and cities, as well as from an economic point of view. CROWN RENTALS. Difficulty has been experienced during the year resulting from the refusal ot land boards, in some cases, to transfer Crown leaseholds, and it does not appear

to be generally known tbat the Crown tenant has the right to appeal to the Supreme Court against any decisions ol the land board in his district by giving notice of bis intention to do so within 30 days of receiving advice of the board’s decision. This right is given the tenant under section 59 of the Land Act, 1924. The executive feels that this provision should be more generally known, and takes this opportunity of advising members. The Valuation of Land Act Amendment, which was recently made law, provides that an owner may require the Valuergeneral to reduce the value of his. land for taxation purposes, or to arrange for its disposal at the owner’s valuation, or that the land shall be acquired by the Crown failing the required reduction being made.

FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE. Representations continue to be made to the Government asking for the removal of the so-called embargo on stock importation from countries nftected with foot-and-mouth disease.

The executive would once more stress the point tbat the existing regulations do not prohibit the importation of stock, but provide for a detention period for observation purposes at an Australian quarantine depot. This observation period lias recently been reduced, and the Advisory Board feels that as the present regujalions were drawn up on the recommendation of the Government’s expert advisers, it would be unwise for laymen to assume the responsibility of_ asking the Government to modify them in any way, especially in view of the wide divergence of opinion on this disease expressed by experts and scientists in various countries. The executive w’ould once more stress the grave consequences to the Dominion should this disease become established here, and also that any alteration of the present regulations should be thfe responsibility of the Government through 3ts departmentaal officers, and this responsibility should, under no circumstances, be accepted bv New Zealand stock owners, a majority of whom fully appreciate the disastrous position which would arise should our Dominion stock be affected. The executive wishes to associate itselt with other farming organisations who have consistently objected to any relaxation ot the present regulations. RESOLUTIONS CARRIED.;

The following resolutions were carthe Meat Export Control Board be requested to arrange for a research institute to be financed and controlled by the meat industry through the Meat Board.” „ , , ... “ That the Meat Board be requested to set up a super or chilled grade of beef for export.” “That the unemployment levy on incomes he placed on the same basis as income tax.” „ . “That this meeting definitely opposes the Scientific and Industrial Research Amendment Bill.” The meeting confirmed the arrangement entered into with the Prime Minister regarding research into the manufacture and general treatment of wool fibre, and agreed to the amount allocated to New Zealand provided other wool producing countries within the Empire, including the United Kingdom, paid their quota on a sheep proportion basis in the following proportions: Australian, 110,009,000 sheep, £10,500: South Africa, 45,000,000, £4300; New Zealand, 29,000,000, £2800; the United Kingdom, 26,000,000, £2400. After a discussion on the present position regarding the restriction on the export of meat to the United Kingdom, the following resolution was carried:— That it is apparent that Great Britain finds it necessary to restrict the imports of meat; that any restriction on the export of meat from New Zealand must prove disastrous to the whole Dominion, and, (therefore, the New Zealand Sheep Owners and Farmers’ Federation most strongly urges upon the Government the necessity of developing markets with other countries, and more particularly the United States. We are of the opinion that no other subject is at present of such outstanding importance to the Dominion, The meeting also passed resolutions protesting against the provisions of the Mining Act Amendment, which, it was felt, encroached on the rights of the owners of freehold land, and expressing the view that the certification of £ams proposed by the Romney and Cornedale Breed Societies was a move which should be followed by other breed societies. Mr H. D. Acland was re-elected president, and Messrs J. S. Jessep and E. Hay were re-elected vice-president and treasurer respectively.