Responding the announcement of a $2.37 million
loan from the Provincial Growth Fund to a Northland berry
farm, New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Louis
Houlbrooke says:
“Why couldn’t this
business get a loan from the bank? If no bank was willing to
take a punt, why should taxpayers bear the same risk?”
“This is a classic example of the Government using
taxpayer money to pick winners. By giving one business a
special favour, Shane Jones is effectively blowing
raspberries at other growers who have to compete without
taxpayer help.”
“If the Government wants to
stimulate economic development it can always cut company
taxes, which will help all businesses, not just a
fashionable
few.”
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