RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUE.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 40, 15 August 1895, Page 2

RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR. Sir, —Mr Wilks seems to have abandoned all his arguments, excepting his pet assertion that there is no such thing as the unimproved value of land. Ifc may not be the best term that could be invented, but its meaning is well known to everyone, save Mr Wilks. Only by putting a wrong meaning to the word " unimproved " (in the above idiomatic phrase) can Mr Wilkg support his assertion, and even then it is merely a not very clever catch, and cannot le discussed seriously. If I remember rightly the Hon. J. Chamberlain, M.P., now a member of the British Cabinet, was the author of the famous phrase " unearned increment." If Mr Wilks can claim more political sagacity and knowledge than that astute gentleman he is sitnply wasting his time in the neighborhood of Kimbolton road. My letters have been written to show : Ist, That the present law is felt by farmers to be oppressive, and that by it they are discouraged from making improvements ; , 2nd, That the Bill, if passed, will help small farmers especially, encourage improvements, and relieve the labour market. I now leave your readers to judge if I have made go^d my case. J have received most gratifying expressions of thanks and approval from farmers since writing my former letters, and it will take more than Mr Wilks' assertion to make them believe that they will be injured by exempting their improvements from taxation. I have no objection to discuss Mr Ward's bill with Mr Wilks, as it is a farmer's subject. Let the debate be held at Colyton ; a vote to be taken at the close, the losing party to pay for Hall and advertising. Thanking you, Mr Editor, for your courtesy in printing my letters. I am, &C, v T. West. Colyton, August 13th 1895.