Y.M.C.A. DEBATING CLUB.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1756, 22 May 1913, Page 9

Y.M.C.A. DEBATING CLUB.

At tie weekly meeting of tho Y.M.C.i. Literary and JJebating Club on Tuesday evening there was a debate on the question "Should Laud be More Heavily Taxed." Mr. K. Brown presided over a large attendance. Mr. F. Laurenson, who took the affirmative side, declared that the laud should bear the chief burden of taxation, and he favoured increasing tho rate to 3d. in the £ on the uuimproved value of land, and abolishing the Customs taxes. He illustrated how the small farmer would ultimately benefit by this change, and how tho large landowner would be compelled to break up his Mr.'j. Tait took the negative side, ai.'d contended that the increase in the rate of taxation and tho abolition of the Customs duties practically meant singletaxing. In his opinion, land was not essentially different from any other kind of property, and should not be specially selected to boar the brunt of taxation. Also, tho abolition of the Customs duties would allow foreign competition, which would be very injurious to the farmer. Several other speakers took part m tho debate, and for the most part favoured increased taxation of laud. A\hen put to tho meeting the proposal was carried bv a majority of five. At the next z> t>etin„ Mr. J. C. Nicklin will deliver a paper entitled "How Are Standards of Authority Arrived At?"