AN " IMPERIAL TAX."

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11863, 29 May 1909, Page 5

AN " IMPERIAL TAX."

STIRRING UP THE FARMERS. (Special to Herald.) AUCKLAND, this day. At tho conference of Farmers' Unioi. delegates a remit was brought fovwnri irom tho Ngaruawahia branch, that aii imperial tax should be levied upon unimproved lands for Imperial deftenct puiposes. . iv. r J . Flanagan said that it was a most extraordinary proposal that foi the sake of defence they must tax thi land. He strongly opposed the motion It- was adverse to the principles of th< Farmers' Union. Mr Alexander 'contended; that the lone was already 'sufficiently taxed. ; Mr Bennett said the farmers weiV groaning under the weight of taxatioL already. He was surprised that such : i remit should come Was thJ back-block settler tho bnly person in- j terested in defence? Captain Colbeck said that while tht towns were liable to destruction in timi of war they had to remember that tht tanner was interested in 'having the Dreadnoughts built to protect the set highways. Their interests were centre* in the safe carrying of their product by sea. He contended that the land bort Uie whole of the taxation. Mr Carless thought the remit was worthy of consideration. The farmei fed the people % but he did not pay the whole of the taxation. Mr Thompson said he was surprised at such a resolution coming before e Farmers' Union conference. It would, be unfair to place all tho responsibilitj on the land. It was absurd to say that it produced all the -wealth.. ; He had or. a coat made of ; wool for which the farmer received in tho first place 8d pei lb. He bought it back at 5s per lb. It was not tho work of the farmer, but of labor and ''machinery arid capital* and tlie farmer should not pay for the cost of defence. Mr Gl J. Garland contended that tht farmers should only pay their share. The motion was an. "undigested thing' and the vaporings of an untrained mind. r The motion was lost.