IMPROVED AND UNIMPROVED VALUES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 93, 31 July 1908, Page 5

IMPROVED AND UNIMPROVED VALUES.

TO THE EDITOR. As a revaluation for taxation purposes in our County of Waitomo seems now to be within measureable distance, would it not be well io air the views of ratepayers on the question of Improved or Unimproved Values as a fair and equitable basis for same ? It is unnecessary to say : (1) That taxation should be fair ; (2) That the expenditure of capital which is the representative of previous industry should also escape. Now, Mr. Editor, we take the value of land as the bed rock basis for rating. If we take its unimproved value as such we have a fair and equitable foundation for our calculations. If the improved value is taken, then we .are at once allowing the owner who has spent neither enterprise capital or labour to escape, by paying a small rate, at the expense of his neighbours, who have to pay a high one on increased value. The result of having toiled year in

and year out to improve their holdings and ihereby their country. Ami m addition have, perhaps, expended the hard earned savings of earlier years, also the result of toil and frugality, at the same time having improved the value of their absentee neighbour's property, which is not recognised bv improved value basis. Should this be so ? Should we not take the unimproved value as our basis ? Thereby the general rate would no doubt be higher, as a certain amount of money must be collected ; but by doing so all would pay their lair proportion of the rate. Industry and enterprise, speculation and idleness would be taxed alike. The object of-this letter is to call forth the opinions of settlers or townspeople on the above subject, and I trust you may be able to find space in your valuable King Country medium for this purpose.—l remain yours etc., HAROLD W. MATTHEWS.