ORCHARD TAX

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20064, 22 March 1935, Page 8

ORCHARD TAX

FUNDS FOR RESEARCH WORK BILL PASSES HOUSE By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, March 21. The second reading of the Orchard Tax Amendment Bill was moved in the House to-night by the Hon. C. E. Macmillan, who said that the purpose of the Bill was to increase the orchard tax from 1/- to 2/- an acre. Formerly a subsidy had been received from the Empire Marketing Board for research purposes, but that would cease on March 31. It was felt that research should be carried out, and the New Zealand Federation of Fruitgrowers asked that the present tax should be doubled. The Bill would enable that to be done. He anticipated that the total amount derived from the Bill would be £2400 from 2873 orchards. The least received from an orchard would be 5/- and the largest commercial orchard in New Zealand would pay £lO/16/-. Mr M. J. Savage (Leader of the Opposition, said his contention was that research work should be done by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Mr H. Atmore (Ind. Nelson) said it was true that fruitgrowers had asked for the increase because the Government would not undertake research unless orchardists contributed. It would be more generous on the part of the Government if the cost of research was made a charge on the public revenue. Mr W. Nash (Lab. Hutt) said he had been asked to oppose the Bill. He contended that the present tax of 1/- an acre was giving satisfaction. He had been informed that orchardists in Wellington, Canterbury, Otago and Manawatu opposed the Bill. Mr W. E. Barnard and Mr W. A. Bodkin also opposed the measure. Mr Forbes said it was desired that the Bill should go through in the present month as the collection of the tax was made at the end of March, and if the Bill was not passed nothing could be done for a year. He said that the dairy industry paid 50 per cent, of the cost of research and the Wheat Institute was maintained by millers, bakers and wheatgrowers. Other members from fruit growing districts urged the Government to increase its contribution to the cost of research. Mr Macmillan, in reply, said it was not correct to say, as some members had said, that other sections of primary industries did not help themselves. The Bill was read a second time, put through committee without amendment, read a third time and passed. The House rose at 11.10 p.m.