Patriotic Fund

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20876, 31 August 1942, Page 6

Patriotic Fund

Sir, —In what he claims to be an answer to my letter, Mr. J. Gay has twisted my words to make it appear that I “want a tax on all property." The proposal I put forward was that the Borough Council should collect Id in the pound on the unimproved value of the borough. The unimproved value attaching to land represents the net rent capitalised. Ground rent arises frbm the presence of a prosperous population, and is thus a community created value. Seventy years ago 1000 acres between the Post Office and Lytton road were purchased from the Maoris for £2OOO. To-day the value of this land \Vould be at least £1,000,000. This value is due to the presence of the industrious and prosperous citizens of Gisborne district, and it would be no tax if Id in the pound were collected for such an object as funds for our fighting men. The contributions of the soldiers’ wives might have been couched in more kindly terms. Those who receive those "fat pay envelopes” give the equivalent in service for their pay, and they have the right to dispose of their earnings as they see fit. It is well to act on the principle that to the producer belongs the product. This covers private earnings as well as those social earnings of the community that we call the unimproved value of land. “Old Stager” repeats the statement that I advocated a tax on property. He may now see by my reply that he is in error. He may see that the proposed tax, as he calls it, would be really a charge for service rendered by the community. His view that the fighting man would prefer a straight out gift has something to commend it. If we believe that “it is more blessed to give than to receive” then, by giving, we benefit ourselves more than we benefit the fighting recipient of our gifts. R ’ U,V ’