FEILDING

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 247, 17 September 1929, Page 8

FEILDING

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. (Special to “Standard.”) FEILDING Sept. 17. The quarterly meeting of the Feilding Chamber of Commerce was held last night, Mr T. S. Goldsmith presiding. Also present were Messrs V. E. Smith, C. E.. Taylor (Mayor), J. G. Eliott, S. G. Lawson, A. C. McCorkindale, A. J. Kellow, A. J. Humphreys and G. J. Fitzpatrick. CORRESPONDENCE. From Hon. J. G. Cobbe, Minister of Marine, stating that he had placed tho question of Palmeston North’s representation on the Manawatu-Oroua Power Board before the Minister of Public Works and requested him to give the matter his earnest consideration.—Received. From the Foxton Harbour Board, enclosing copy of a letter received from the Minister of Railways, in which it was regretted that special railway rates from the port of Foxton similar to those instituted between Wanganui and Palmerston North could not be granted.— Mr Kellow, the Feilding representative on the Foxton Harbour Board, stated that it was intended to wait on the Minister in regard to the institution of the special rates, when it was hoped that some arrangement might be made. —The letter was received. From the Minister of Industries and Commbrce (Hon. J. G. Cobbe) forwarding a report in regard to tho possibilities of New Zealand’s trade with the East.—Received. From the postmaster, Mr G. Kilvington, advising that in the near future Kiwitea telephone subscribers would have direct connection with the Feilding exchange and that already one ten party line had been wired up and eighteen applicants were in for the service to be extended.—lt was decided to thank Mr Kilvington for his notification. LAND TAXATION. Mr Kellow again raised the question of land taxation as proposed by the Government and regretted that there were not more members present so that the chamber could give a representative voice on the subject. He referred to the lack of interest his previous attempt to obtain tho support of the chamber had met and stated that he would rather see any motion defeated than see it fail to evoke any discussion by not finding a seconder. Mr Kellow went on to give instances of how the proposed taxation would affect landowners in New Zealand and, quoting from a table he had drawn up, he claimed that hardship would be inflicted in some cases if the proposals were enforced. The speaker also gave examples of how the proposals compelled the farmer to pay more heavily than the man whose money was invested in city properties, the ratio of payment being almost three times heavier in the case of the farmer. He claimed that there was no necessity for the Government to raise the money it proposed to obtain and if the money was needed it could be obtained by the cutting down of expenses. , , ~ Mr Kellow then moved that tile chamber protest against proposals oil the following grounds:— (1) That they will cause a general reduction in? land values.

(2) That a serious depreciation in mortgage securities will result. (3) That the reduction of the mortgage exemption will result in increased taxation to a great many farmers with small incomes. (4) That the Government could attain its object by the abolition of the land tax and the imposition of a general income tax, graduated as required. ’ , (5) That sub-division could be brought about in suitable cases under the powers already held by the Government.

(6) That the suggested income tax on farmers in good years and land tax in bad years is an unfair proposal. The motion was seconded by Mr Smith.

Speaking in support of the motion, Mr Eliott agreed with Mr Kellow that the Government had not gone fully into tho mattter before the proposals were framed, otherwise it would have foreseen the results that would come. He proceeded to attack the proposed taxation and pointed out instances he knew of where hardship would be inflicted.

Mr Humphreys felt that he could not agree with the wdiole of the motion as moved by Mr Kellow, but there was no doubt that for the most part the clauses in the motion were correct. Mr Humphreys vent on to expound his views on taxation at some length and claimed that Mr Kellow s instance of the taxes paid by a city man and a farmer ? both earning o pe: cent, on their capital, the former pf-y----ing income tax and the latter land tax, was hardly a fair illustration is in most cases the ratio of income would be far higher in the case of the city man. Mr Humphreys's main objection was to clause four and he moved as an amendment that this clause be altered by the deletion of the words “abolition of land tax.” He agreed that, although land tax in a sense was a capital levy, the land was the only real capital the people of New Zealand had. Mr McCorkindale seconded the amendment pro forma and thought that tho motion as amended would find more favour with the Government. Mr Kellow said that clause four was not a vital point in the motion at all and he ivas quite prepared, with the consent of the seconder, to withdraw the clause altogether from the motion and to this Mr Smith agreed. Mr Taylor also put forward his views on the taxation proposals and assorted that there was one fact that, as far as Feilding was concerned, had been lost sight of, and he referred to the compulsory cutting up of the large estates adjacent to the town where a highly systemised breeding of stud sheep and cattle was carried on. Mr Taylor observed that these breeders had a Dominion wide reputation for their stock and he thought it highly questionable whether the cutting up of the estates, and thereby destroying valuable stud farms, would be sound business. No further discussion was forthcoming and on being put to tho vote the amended motion was carried unanimously. GENERAL. It was decided to ask Mr C. S. Jeffs to address the annual meeting of the chamber when ho returns to Feilding next month from his trip abroad.

MUSIC EXAMINATIONS. The results of the Trinity College of Music examinations held in Feilding recently are as under;— Miss O’Halloran’s pupil.—Elvera Bennett, L.T.C.L., 74. Miss Mudford’s pupils.—Sybil Edmunds, junior division, 69; Coral Edmunds, junior division, 60; Lorna Davis, intermediate, 63. Miss Gallus’s pupil.—Vera Hore, senior, 62. Miss Hore’s pupils.—Amy Hore, junior, 67; 'Elsie Hore, preparatory, 66; Isobel Beard, first steps, 69. Miss Garrett’s pupil.—Joan Pearson, preparatory, 65. Mr and Mrs Goldina’s pupils.—Miss Martin, L.T.C.L., 76; Ivy Rodgers, higher local, 70; Yvonne Bennett, junior, 67; Dora Wild, preparatory,

74; Joan McCallum, preparatory, 73; Neil Kirk, preparatory, 70. METHODIST MISSION. At the annual meeting of the Feilding branch of the Methodist Women’s Missionary Union the report showed that interest in missionary work, both at home and abroad, had not only been maintained, but had been extended. At the close of the business session, the members were entertained with musical items contributed by the Maori party under the direction of Rev. A. J. Seamer, general superintendent of Maori Missions, who gave an address on his work and experiences among the Maori people. MAKING TENNIS CLUB. The annual meeting of the Makino Road Tennis Club was presided over by Mr W. P. Baker, a good number of members being present. A credit balance of £6 17s Id was shown in the club’s finances this being after having twice top-dressed the courts which are now in good order. It was stated that there is every prospect of last season’s membership of 17 players being increased, and reference was also made to tho success which attended the ping pong tourneys conducted by the club during the winter months. The following officers were appointed for the ensuing season: —President, Mr W. P. Bickers j vice-president, Messrs A. Humphrey and W. E. Baker; committee, Misses E. Clover. L. Baker, B. Beazer, D. Smith, V. Amer and R. Vincent, Messrs H. Beazer, R. Humphrey, R. and C. Petersen; hon. secretary, Mr W. Baker with Mr N. Martin assistant; club captain, Mr D. Fraser; vice-captain, Mr W. Baker. It was decided to open the season on Saturday, September 21. Afternoon tea will be provided by the ladies. A vote of thanks was passed to the school committee for its assistance.

PERSONAL. Mr and Mrs F. H. Stockwell, of Feilding, left to-day for Wellington where Mr Stockwell will represent Feilding at the conference of the New Zealand Acclimatisation Societies. Miss Violet McFarland, daughter of Mr 11. A. McFarland, of Aorangi, leaves the Dominion this week on a trip to the United States.