FARMERS’ TAXATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 199, 22 August 1929, Page 8

FARMERS’ TAXATION

RESOLUTIONS OF PROTEST HUNTERVILLE AND MARTON MEETINGS The taxation proposals of the present Government have given rise to discussion from one end of the Dominion to the other and the voice of the farmers has become loud in protest to super land tax under the scale suggested. Meetings have been held in various centres and motions of protest and others asking for modification of the Government’s intentions have been carried. Criticism has been levelled at the attitude of Mr W. G. Polson, M.P., and Dominion President of the Farmers’ Union, members holding that his opinion, as given expression to on the floor of the House, does not represent the feelings of the Union of which he is the head.

At a meeting of the Marton branch of the Farmers l Union held on Tuesday Mr A. Howard moved “That this meeting of farmers disassociates itself from the remarks made by Mr Polson, the Dominion president of the Farmers’ Union, on the taxation proposals.” Mr J. B. S Dudding, in seconding the motion, was surprised that no action had been taken. It was altogether wrong of the Dominion president to speak as he had done and it appeared to the speaker that the union should look round for a new president.

Mr T. Willis felt that Mr Polson might have an explanation and he should be given an opportunity of clearing himself. The motion was carried unanimously. The meeting discussed at length the Budget taxation proposals, Mr J. Cornfoot, president of the Marton branch of the Farmers’ Union, presiding over a good attendance. The chairman explained that since the calling of the meeting a gathering had been held at Feilding, at which delegates had been appointed to attend a national convention of farming interests at Wellington. He th.en read the resolution which was carried at the Feilding meeting. Discussing the Feilding meeting, the chairman said he felt that the convention in Wellington w r ould do some good. Mr T. Willis thought that from Mr Cobbe’s remarks, the Government was likely to give way as far as the amount at which the super-tax would commence was concerned.

Mr F. Brice was very much against the proposals and he thought the time had arrived when the farmer should seriously consider adopting the income ax, instead of land tax. The speaker went on to criticise the manner in which the unimproved value of farm lauds was arrived at and claimed that if all the improvements put into a farm by an enterprising farmer were taken away, the farm would have little, if ai v unimproved value.

Mr Brice touched on th e question of un-mployment and illustrated the poss bilities in the development of the soca’led pumice land in the Rotorua distiict. He moved: “That this meeting is opposed to the increased land tax proposals while so much unimproved land is waiting development—land that can be individually settled at a much less aggregate cost to that of highly priced land and production would be increased, while under a system of close subdivision of high priced land, it is a question if the production would be in excess of its previous earning capacity.” The motion wa;- seconded by Mr T. Willis on the mover agreeing to embody his motion in the resolution carried at Feilding. This Mr Brice agreed to.

Thp chairman referred to the division of opinion on the issue land tax v. income tax and expressed the opinion that if farmers advocated income tax, they would find they would be saddled w’ith land tax as well. Mr R. J Moore moved that the resolution adopted at Feilding be adopted as expressing the views of the farmers of the Marton district. This was seconded by Mr H. Smith and carried.

Mr T. Willis did not think any additional revenue was required. If there were only 50 who were being unjustly treated, others should protest. Mr T. Trotter, speaking as one who was going to be hard hit, remarked that it was not the farmer’s business to find a remedy for the evils of Government but to protest against the taxation proposals. He held a big area of second class land and the super tax proposals were going seriously to affect his business. “What about the Yankee motor cars! ”, asked the speaker. “Could not the Government increase the taxation on such 'imports, particularly when one considers what America is doing with our exports to the U.S.A.” Mr Trotter protested most emphatically against what he described its an iniquitous tax. Mr Willis said if the taxation -went through, it would mean £2 10s a bale on every hale of wool produced on his farm.

Mr Moore doubted very much whether the farmers should offer any remedy for the taxation proposals.

Mr Brice felt that the farmers should offer constructive criticism and not confine their talk to pulling and proposals to pieces and protesting. To illustrate the farmers’ position, the speaker compared th c advantages gained by the investor in bank or insurance shares to the difficulties which the investor in farming property had to face and even though the latter’s capital had been seriously depleted, he was still being asked to pay more taxes. Mr G. L. Marshall spoke on the lines of his remarks at the Feilding meeting.

“I think, Mr Chairman, we’ve just got the Government a lot of the farmers asked for/’ exclaimed Mr Trotter amidst a chorus of hear hears. It was agreed to add Mr Brice’s motion to the Feilding resolution.

AT HUNTERVILLE. A meeting of fanners was held at Huntcrville on Tuesday. In the absence of the president (Mr Lloyd Hammond) through illness, Mr Logan McLean presided. At the request of the chairman the secretary read the resolutions passed at Feilding, also resolutions passed by Wanganui and Rangitikei meetings of farmers.

M- K. Hammond sfid he endorsed th c resolutions passed elsewhere and added that, the farmer was the only man who was not aliowed to increase his business or provide extra land for his children If a man started with five or six hundred acres and saves money to increase his holding, the Government stepped iu. The man in the town could start at £SOG and increase to half a million, but nothing was said. To his way of thinking a man should be allowed to increase his holdings up to two or three thousand acres, or up to £20,000 unimproved value, providing h e farmed it in a proper way. Rural towns would suffer if the proposed land taxation was brought into effect. Owners would button up and not spend, unemployment would increase owing to farmers employing less men. The Budget was absurd. He also objected to the attitude of Mr Polson in Parliament. At Feilding much was said, but nuthing went through, but in his opinion delegates should ask for his resignation. The Union had tried for unity and the president had dragged it into politics. All parties were in the Union, and when they had a traitor he should be sacked. They should take the first opportunity to elect anyone but Mr Polson.

The chairman said the worst element was the reduction of the mortgage exemption as this would affect thc men dealing with financial agents and could cut from under their feet the source of their supplies. As regards the alternative of income tax, a farmer might spend a lot on labour one year, while the next he would not, thus he would pay through land tax one year and income tax the next. It was not equitable, and it wa s not right. He would support taxation on luxuries or American goods. Mr D. D. Simpson said that at Fcilding Mr Cobbe had stated that thc object was more to break up large estates rather than make up any deficit. They wished to break up the country into small holdings. He also said if three or four reasonable men went to Wellington, the Government would take notice. At that meeting Mr Cobbe did not get a good hearing, every remark being met with a counter statement. Mr R. G. Dalziell said the strongest point was that of unemployment. If the screw was put on the man with £12,500, it would mean that he would put men off and do the work himself. If thc Government tackled the nonproductive land first, and the land not being made the best u..e of, and those that were holding the very large areas, gradually coming down then the proposal would be all right.’ The first duty wa s to bring in the unproductive land. It was not necessary to interfere with the man working his land. He could see it would be very hard to exempt land considered unsuitable for closer settlement owing to th. difference of opinion among experts as to the value of land. If a large area was making money, why should it not pay the tax"/ Mr D. Cameron said it was doubtful if big sheep stations were cut up that more men would be employed. Mr Dalziell: You fellows will have to employ more men.

Mr Cameron: We can’t make enough to do so.

Mr D. D. Simpson: These days it is a crime to own sheep. Mr Dalziell said leaseholds, where land was going back, should be taken in hand by the Government. Mr Howie said it was dangerous for any Government to aim a blow at the freehold. It would spoil vhe people’s right, also the Government. Thc chairman said no Government was strong enough to get away from the land tax. In a bad year the revenue had to come from the land. The business man had no income, and any Government would have to fall back on the land. Mr Howie said the trouble was continual borrowing. To pay the interest on a million of money meant the rental value of 50,000 acres of first-class land. 100,000 of second-class, or 500,000 of third-class land.

Mr D. D. Simpson: What if they borrow £70,000,000? Mr Dalziell: All Governments borrow money, and the present is no worse than others.

On the motion of Mr K. M. Hammond, seconded by Mr T. Chisholm, the following resolution was carried: That this meeting of Hunterville branch of the Farmers’ Union endorse the action of the Wellington Provincial Farmers’ Union, and pledges its support to the delegates

at the Dominion Conference. On thc motion of Messrs Dalziell and Illston, it was decided that the secretary send a report of the meeting to the Hon, J. G'. Cobbe and Mr J. T. Hogan, as mcmber s for the districts concerned.

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