FARMERS AND TAXES.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18352, 24 August 1929, Page 2

FARMERS AND TAXES.

DEPUTATION TO PRIME MINISTER HARDSHIP CLAUSE CONTEMPLATED Br T» lejtrhph—rr**« -J*oai»tion WELLINGTON, August 23. A deputation from the conference of the Farmers’ Union, and other primary producers waited on Sir Joseph Ward to-day, and brought before him the resolutions carried! yesterday!. Introducing it. Mr W. J. Poison hoped that when the Bills came down embodying the views of the Government, considerable amendments would be mado. , After hearing the speakers, Sir Joseph Ward said the matter was one surrounded with great difficulties, was due to the large holdings in this country. Unquestionably the. owners had not been contributing their shares of taxation, at any rate not since the repeal of the inoome tax the war was over, and it was prevent ng settlement. If it were possible to have right through this country settlers upon land £15,000 or £20,000 in value, there need not be any disturbances by legislation at all. It was, however, the small number beyond these figures who held large areas of land the 1«R tion proposals were directed at. iney had to remember that many people who had large holdings had investments in things outside their land, and it a duotion of mortgages were put mte operation, in the case of of the community, they bad only 6 accommodation against their large holdings and with the investments they had got an other things, and escape taxation, altogether. imrdshit) Si- Joseph Ward said a hardsmp clause was one of the contemplated changes he had in mind, so as not » do an injustice to anybody. ■ He d a not want to do anything that would WOTdfuTttT p^rf«t e faiimess. Th« resolutione of the conference would he conwafriKSSS tions being passed, a - -rr ac j New Zealand was convulsed. He naa h ..,i on the other side frem many of the districts from which those had dome. few minded the. deputation that only years ago all mortgages were taxed, aim “conduding” & Joseph Ward said the Government wanted to get. taxation upon a fair basis, without doing injury to farmers or anybody else. ADDITIONAL RESOLUTIONS BY CONFERENCE. Br Telegraph—Preae Aeeoo'.ation. WELLINGTON, August 23 The following are additiontal res°tetions carried by the conference Thursday of farmers— That this Conference protests against the Government's decision to promote legislation to strike a levy on farm lands through a super-tax on land, and a reduction m the amount of mortgage exemption; ana tnat mis meeting is convinced that the present system of land taxation is not equitable. and suggests that a graduated income tax on all taxable incomes, however derived should be substituted. That this conference Is strongly opposed to an increase of taxation upon one form of security only, namely rural lands —Carried unanimously.