TAX THE LEASEHOLDER.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1578, 23 October 1912, Page 6

TAX THE LEASEHOLDER.

AN OPPOSITION SUGGESTION

During tho courso of a. short speech it tho Houso yostordny afternoon Mr. 0. W. Kussell, tho member for Avon, said he was in favour of taxing the leaseholder. Tho Hon. W. l'\ Masscy, in tho course of 11 brief reply to tho lion, member's remark, said tho lcasc-in-perpetuity holders understood quite well that when they converted their leaseholds they would become liable to land tux, but if they became liablo to laud tax they would not have to pay rent. Ho believed that !)9!) out uf every thousand would prefer to pay lam! tax rathor than rent. Mr. Jiussell: Ho will not escape interest. Mr. Massey: That will depend absolutely on tho amount of his capital. But what I was more interested in was another statement' of tho lion, member's. Ho said that ho was strongly of opinion that tho holder of a leasehold should pay taxation just as tho holder of a freehold does.

Mr. Kussell: Why not? Mr. Masscy: I am very glad to hear that tho lion, member admits that, and coming from tho lion, member, I take it that it is part of tho policy of the lion, gentlemen who sit on tho Opposition benches that in the caso of leasehold land in their opinion it is not enough that leaseholders should pay rent, but that they should pay land tax as well. An lion, member: Who said tbatP

Mr. Masscy: Leader number ono of the Opposition party—(laughter)—and I can only presume that he is speaking for the party. (Opposition cries of "No! No!" and "You're wrong!")

A Government member: They've turned him down. (Laughter.)

Mr. "Witty: Ho had no right to tfty that at all.