INCREASED PRODUCTION.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9980, 10 July 1925, Page 5

INCREASED PRODUCTION.

MR. RANSOM’S VIEWS COLLAR AND CUFF BRIGADE. (Special—Parliamentary Reporter). WELLINGTON, Last Night Matters dealing with increased production were the chief topics of Mr Ransom, when speaking to the Ad-dress-in-Repl.y in the House to-night. It was of great importance that not only quantity but quality should be improved. Undoubtedly a reduction in taxation would help but wealthy sheepfarmers should not get the benefit of the remissions which were coining. “Many sheepfarmers in New Zealand have incomes ranging from £SOOO to £IOO,OOO annually, and pay not a penny on their incomes front land,” said Mr Ransom. If tiiis class was called upon, to pay taxation in accordance with their ab'lity to pay, it would relieve other classes, thus helping, to improve production. This exemption should never have been allowed.

Mr Nosworthy: “It was done by the National Government.”

Mr Ransom: “The promise was made at the time when' it was not known what the country would be saddled with, 80 millions war debt, and there is no justification for continuing it. No Government worth its salt would refuse to remove this system, which frees the wealthy farmer of taxation, while it is placed on the shoulders of poorer people.” The member for Pahiatua declared our education system was turning out a “collar and cuff brigade.” It unfitted bo.ys for going on the land. Highly improved areas were out of reach of our young men, and he believed opportunities were best on pumice country. Some interesting examples of value of herd-testing were given by Mr Ransom, asking why New Zealand with superior climate could not reach Danish production standard of 3001b® of butter-fat per season.