NEW TAXATION CRITICISED

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1930, Page 11

NEW TAXATION CRITICISED

URGENT CALL FOR ECONOMY “INCREASE GOULD BE AVOIDED - ’ FARMERS DISCUSS THE BUDGET. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Aug. 5. A representative meeting of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, New Zealand Sheepowners’ Federation and New Zealand Counties’ Association to-day dis-, cussed the taxation proposals. Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P., who presided, said they were profoundly dissatisfied with the taxation proposals. The position of the country desperately needed measures of economy, and they had gone back to pre-war methods instead of carrying on with post-war methods. The Budget might have been nearly balanced with the exercise of more economies, .with praetically.no increase in taxation at all,- and if the increase was necessary it should have been on luxuries. Among marly speakers, Mr. J. H. Joll (Hawked Bay) said that there was only one thing to do, and that was to cut down' the expense of running the country. Mr. Polson said the farm prices were just about down to the pre-war level, but costs were 20 per cent, above. It was resolved: “That this meeting approves of the suggested economies in railways and defence.” The following motions were carried: This meeting. is emphatically of the opinion'that the Dominion’s financial position calls for immediate public economy. This meeting strongly protests against the continuance, of Customs duties .on ; the necessities of life and the means of production, believing that such duties would defeat the, ; only:real'. remedy, which is, greater production through a lower level of. costs.

That, this-meeting expresses satisfaction at the-'withdrawal by the Premier of the super-tax .on land imposed last year. This, meeting- unanimously supports ■the imposition. of income tax in lieu of land tax.

This meet in <r .considers that if additional . taxation .is required more revenue should be obtained by increasing • the taxation on luxuries. That as the time has arrived when the users of roads should construct and maintain them, this meeting approves of the imposition of the increased tax on petrol, provided that the proceeds of such- taxation are used for relieving the burden of rates in the maintenance and formation of roads and not for directly or indirectly relieving the Consolidated Fund.

This meeting asks the Premier to appoint a select committee, firstly, to make careful investigations into the important matter of the de-rating. of agricultural and pastoral lands in other countries, and, secondly, to consider the advisability of exempting all farm lands in the Dominion from rates for reading purposes. That as in. the opinion of this meeting. the. restriction on industry, arising from the operation of the Arbitration Act is one of the prime causes of unemployment the Government be again urged to put into legislative effect the employers’ recommendations following on the industrial conference in 1928.

Representations are to be made to the Premier to-day.