Federated Farmer Eight-Plank Policy

Wanganui Chronicle, 5 October 1946, Page 4

Federated Farmer Eight-Plank Policy

(P.A.) Wellington, Oct. 4. An eight-plank platform for the newly-founded Federated Farmers of New Zealand, was determined at the first Dominion conference which ended to-day. The platform opens with a declaration that Federated Farmers of New Zealand places principles before party, and supports no political organisation, but reserves a right to criticise the legislation of any political party. The several planks of the platform are as follow:

State Ownership and Control.—Federated Farmers holds that it is desirable that the State should operate certain public services, especially where, by their nature, they must be of a monopolistic character, such as railways, telegraphs and electricity, but the federation is definitely opposed to a policy of State ownership and control of the means of production, distribution and exchange. Costs and Prices.—While Federated Farmers’ policy is that the soundest method of closing the gap between farmers’ costs and prices is by reduction of costs, it insists on its complete closing by a reduction of costs, or by an increase in prices. Such adjustment must enable farmers to pay competitive rates of wages, allow them a reasonable interest on capital invested in farms and stock, enable them to meet increased costs imposed by legislation, including tariffs, and/or import control, allow them remuneration commensurate with the service they render and with that obtained by other members of the community who render equal service, preserve the capital invested in the land, and stimulate the full use of the land.

Co-operation. - Federated Farmers strongly supports tile principle of cooperation, with producer control, where it will enable farmers more economically to produce and market their produce. It strongly supports processing for markets and marketing of primary products, and the provision of supplies and services by pro-ducer-controlled co-operative organisations.

It denies that where, in order to make co-operative processing for markets and marketing of farmers’ products fully effective in meeting organised competition of other countries, the Government makes cooperation. compulsory, the State h?s

any right to take control out of tb« hands of the farmers. Taxation. -Federated Farmers in opposed to land tax, which is wrong in principle and unjust in its incidence. It urges that direct taxation replace indirect taxation as far possible; that all direct taxation be levied on personal income only, and be so graduated that the burden falls most heavily on those best able to bear it; that all taxation payments be exempt from further taxation; that taxation through customs be for revenue purposes only, and be con* fined mainly to luxuries. Lan«.—That except- in. regard- td lands held for specific purposes, the holder shall be entitled to acquire the freehold from the State, under fair and reasonable conditions; that the Government facilitate the taking up of land by suitable settlers with small amounts of capital, and existing obstacles in this direction be removed. Social.—Federated Farmers strongly supports a national health insurance scheme, financed by compulsory and direct contributions levied on wages and salaries, or personal income, on a flat rate in the pound, the benefits to be available, without any limitation of income or in any other way; the total cost of hospital finance ultimately to be a charge on the fund. Federated farmers also supports a universal national provident fund, similarly financed, to provide for all pensions and allowances for public services.

Education. Federated Farmers’ supports equal opportunity for education for town and country children, including consolidation of country schools, where desirable.

Currency.—Federated Farmers approve control of, issue and withdrawal of credit and currency by a national authority, free from political control.