N.Z. WOOLGROWERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17802, 29 August 1929, Page 2

N.Z. WOOLGROWERS.

REQUEST TO GOVERNMENT FACED WITH KEEN COMPETITION. WELLINGTON, Wednesday. A deputation representing the New Zealand Sheepowners' Federation waited on the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, this evening. Mr W. J. Poison said the deputation was entirely a non-political one. Firstly, the woolgrowers of this country were faced with keen competition from artificial silk and wool and the effect would be adverse for the industry. The Sheepowners’ Federation and the Farmers' Union had had a joint discussion that morning and were unanimous that something should be done. Their idea was that they should have power to place a levy upon wool grown in this country, so much per bale, or on each £IOO worth of wool, so that with similar levies from Australian woolgrowers and growers in other parts of the British Empire the products of wool could be advertised in-other countries. Mr Bernard Tripp said the sheepowners considered that the present taxation bore inequitably upon farm lands because of the difficulty in connection with classification, and the new taxation would be even more inequitable in that regard. Mr H. D. Ackland, president of the Sheepowners’ Federation, said the Government had inherited a vicious taxation system as far as farm land was concerned. A graduated scale on income tax was equitable. Prime Minister Sympathetic. In reply the Prime Minister said he quite agreed that a levy was necessary on the sheepowners for the purposes described. So far as legislation was concerned, the Government would be pleased to promote it on the lines indicated. The sheepowners could he given the power to make the levy and its operation suspended until they obtained from Australia the information they wanted. A bill could be prepared and submitted to the sheepowners to ensure that they were getting what they wanted'. The Prime Minister said the Government did not want to do anything unfair with regard to taxation. The Government had moved as it had done because without a certain amount of revenue coming from the land the Government could not make both ends meet. The Government wanted to avoid any incongruities and was prepared to go into the matter. The Government did not want to press the small or average farmer with the legislation it proposed.