Rating on Unimproved Values.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14977, 26 May 1914, Page 6

Rating on Unimproved Values.

Wo aro glad to boo that'(hero is somo sign of tho ratepayers' of Christchurch seriously taking into consideration the system under which they aro rated. Somo years ago tho single-tax faddists succeeded by a snatch voto in foisting

on the city tho system of rating on unimproved \-aliics. At iTTaI timo tho bulk of the ratepayers did not know what it meant, and few of them took tho trouble to vote. They have einco found out by painful experience not only that it is n very inequitable way of adjusting tho btirdon of local taxation, but that it is bud. for tlio city as a whole. It has oueouraged ovorbuilding, and by practically forcing tho crowding of as many houses as possiblo on a. given area, of ground, it has destroyed tho chief charm of Christchurcu as a Garden City, and is crowding tho poorer together in a manner that is manifestly detrimental to tho public health. Shortly wo aro to bo visited by townplanning experts, and it is snfo to assume that ono of their fireh recommendations will bo that either the eystern of rating on unimproved values shall bo abolished, or else that exemption shall bo provided for a certain area of garden ground attached to each house.

Tho ratepayers having patiently submitted to tho system for so long, the faddists are now at, work with tho object of extending tho system, so that it shall apply not only to the genera! rate, but also to tho "porsonal sen-ice" (drainage and water supply) and hospital rates. But tho patient worm now shows a disposition to turn. Wo j aro glad to eeo that the City Council last night, iii response to a deputation from tho Rating Association, has asked the Finance Committee to consider and report on tho working of the Act. PorGonally we should have preferred an independent commission to enquire into tho question. We hope, however, that tho Finance Committee will go into it very fully and Very impartially. Their report will at least afford a basis for discussion. Tho opponents of tho Act should then seek to arouse the public by means of public meetings, and then take tho necessary steps so as to submit to the ratepayers a proposal for the rescission of the decision to adopt the. unimproved system. A petition signed by 15 per cent, of the ratepayers on tho roll will ensure a fresh referendum being taken. Tho proposal to extend tho systems to the hospital, drainage and water rates, should be resisted at all hazards.

To most people who havo thought about the matter at all, the extraordinary anxiety of the Opposition to create, by misrepresentation and, abuse, a prejudice against the Government's naval policy is not in the least due to any convictions on tho subject. None of them, not even Sir Joseph "Ward, have really thought about tho question. They are only desirous of making a | noise, to distract attention, if possible, from the strike. They are terrified at the effect of the strike, and their behaviour in connexion with it, upon their fortunes —they have enough sense t-o feel alarmed. There is accordingly no great necessity to take seriously their s:I!y references to naval policy. although, of course, tiieir grosser misrepresentations must be corrected from time to time. We may note, however, a vory characteristically "Liberal" comment by the member for Nelson, whose "ingenuity" in completely deceiving tho Nelson electors has made him ono of the heroes of the not-very-particular Opposition Party. At Winton, as an admiring "Liberal" paper reports, Before leav.ng this Question, Mr Atjnore recited two verses, of "Admirals All" in spiendiu fetvle, end then siud: 'These linos were not rrritten about tbo men that -will compose Mr Allen's toy Eavy." This snocr means that, in Mr At-

more's opinion, which is tho opinion of the "Liberal" Party, tho young Now Zealanders who will join the nary will lack the qualities of British seamen—courage, patriotism, and manliness. The Opposition will hardly lessen the hostility of the public towards them by insulting -the spirit of those of our young men who will adopt a naval life. No doubt when the scheme is fairly started, the remnants of the "Liberal" Party will set themselves to brand as "scabs" the young fellows who enter the training ship. It is as well to know where the anti-Re-formers stand on this question, and Mr Atmore can at any rate bo thanked for letting us all see the true spirit behind the Wardite campaign.

The correspondent of an American paper, writing of the anti-Homo Rule demonstration in Hyde P Qr k last month, suggests that Mr Balfour's appearance there was no little of a sensation. "Never before," he writes, "has any English statesman of Prime* Ministerial rank condescended to enter the arena of Hyde Park. Mr Balfour is one of the last men who might have been oxpect-ed to venture upon such an innovation. "What would his uncle have thought if ho had lived to hoar of it? This escapade might have been much more easily credited even to Lord Rosebery, who at the period of his chairmanship of tho London County Council showed considerable democratic sympathies. Gladstone might havo clone such n thing, for one of the most notable incidents in his career was an address at an immense open-air demonstration at Greenwich. But as to Arthur James Balfour. one might even have doubted whether he was aware that Hyde Park was ever u.'od for the purpose of a public meeting." Mr Balfour can at any rate reflect that by his departure from precedent he did not do for his party what Mr LloydGeorge, when he went to Ipswich, did for his.

The man in the street who art reading that Sweden is going to build eight battleships, looks up Sweden's financial resources, may bo astonished .it such a programme. A country with a revenue of fifteen millions would spend moro than all its revenue if it built eight Dreadnoughts. But Sweden goes in for small vessels. The largest of the vowels built or building, tho Sverigt l . which is to bo paid for out of tho great national defence subscription, will be only 7000 tons, and her cost a third of that of a British Dreadnought. Still tho programme "will impose a he-cjy burden on tho people. The events of the last three years, including tho recent elections, however, showed that n majority of tho people are determined upon the defence question. Public opinion in 1911 wa.s strongly against tho Government's policy of naval retrenchment, and the outcome wa.s a subscription of £900,000 to strengthen the fleet. Tho peonlo have a gonuino foar of Russia, and are not going to follow tho advice of tho Rev. F. C. Spun- to Australians. Against ihe might of Russia, if it moves against them, they will opno.se not a philosophic resignation, but tho utmost of their strength.

It is not often that a newly-appa ntod member of tho British Ministry loses his seat on submitting himself for reelection. Wo cannot recall a. cn.se in which a Minister promoted to Cabinet rank has been twice rejected. It is over three months since Mr Masterman vacated his scat in the House of Commons on his promotion to the Cabinet, and ho has yet to find a seat. It is hard luck for a, man who has attained Cabinet rank at tho early age of forty. There in nothing in tho Constitution requiring that a Minister shall be a member of Parliament, but there are obvious reasons why a Minister in Mr Masterman's position should either find a seat quickly or resign. A third defeat would be disastrous, both for Mr Masterman and for tho Government,