DIVERSE OPINIONS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 921, 14 September 1910, Page 5

DIVERSE OPINIONS.

EATING ON UNIMPROVED LiNT) . VALUES. ■:>

INTERESTING; DISCUSSION

(By Telecrapli.—Press Association.;

• Christchurch, -September 13 •fits^f' & verso .,opinions as to the :bene-' fits,,of the system of rating on iraim- ; land : values were expressed last evening by members of the P City Council,, a considerable number of- the'sneakers shomng hostility to the system Sn LJiWv w » s r « ad irom the Valuer-Gen-thnV i-wV?'■ 1 ? n I ? gan ). '"•ho'.stated: that, the Secretary of State: for. the.Colo]w t !? slr Pu. s °'f obtaining-informa-' .tjon regarding the, operation' of the .tax. on. unimproved land values -■'.rhe' -Mayor..said that the of' rating on unimproved values''had certainly . not stopped the - holding of land for speculative; purposes, and it was. not: likely, to do so mutinies of prosperity such as the present. . Building had been going on to a great extent, and this,'together with ;an increase in rentals in some .direction?, was also probably due to tho present prosperity... Councillor Gapes said there could fee no doubt the system encouraged the rise ot land -'and encouraged building.. He thought, however, that the 1 system-should be to the inner area of the City.;

Councillor, Morris said the tendency to create slum's which was brought about '/■the system should not be overlooked. Councillor Taylor said that under the system a property-owner was very justly prevented' from benefiting by, improvements in adjoining proporty. • Councillor Sorensen said that the tendency of the system'-was to crowd buildings together, and the system also handicapped business firms that had to use open land'in their-process.. Councillor Parsons, said he could ; not understand sensible men saying that the .system was detrimental to the city. It was the. best thing that ever happened Jo the city. , It had given a great impetus to the building . trade, and. any tendency overcrowd buildings would soon right itself. He considered that every benefit suggested as possible in the questions had been conferred'by the system. ,

Councillor Otley said he thought the system was the most unjust one ever designed. He knew a man in Christoliurcli who-was a blacksmith.' He had o pay as much for the land on which his little smithy stood as the owners of a large building next door had to pay.'. Councillor Dougall said lie considered it would be difficult to find any man in Christchurch who had erected a fine building who was not paying, more than he would have done under the old system. Some people were paying half as much again as they used to, while others got off lightly in tho same proportion.

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