SINGLE-TAX FALLACIES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1210, 19 August 1911, Page 6

SINGLE-TAX FALLACIES.

'Sir,—Arthur Withy, whose letter ivti New Zealand slums appears in your today's issue, is, I understand, .one of thi» leaders of those New Zealanders who wish that all State revenue should bo raised by land taxation. I think it can be shown that such a proposal carried out would bring results disastrous to the State, one reason being that it, the only tax, would be clearly a. class tax, paid only by landholders. If a democracy is to administer wisely, it is necessary for each voter to pay direct taxation on his income and accumulated wealth. Otherwise it seems impossible for them to realis* that State expenditure is mado out of their own contributions. Until that 'is realised extravagant administration witl ensue. Time and space will not allow that great question to be threshed ont low, but I,would like' to contradict two suggestions A.W. made in his letter. He speaks of land monopoly in New Zealand. How can that be, while hundreds of thousands of acres are constantly offered for snle, and whilo the Stale has tho right to take, land when it sees fit, and subdivide it for settlement?. Ho speaks of rating on unimproved values as a remedy for slums. How can that be when it is a direct inducement to holders of town lands to crowd buildings on every possible square yard?—l am, etc., . WILL. B. MATHESON. RoDfomai, August 11,