RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10279, 14 May 1919, Page 6

RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUES

(To the Editor “N.Z. Times.”) Sir, —In new of the growth of opinion in favour of the taxation of the uuimproved value of laud, it is interesting to note the progress of the movement. Witli.n the pass few weeks the ratepayers have decided by sweeping majorities in favour of this salutary reform in Manawatu County, Otaki Town District. Mba Hoad District. (Taranaki County), and in the boroughs of New Plymouth and Taibape. Perhaps the most significant vote was that recorded in Manawatu County—679 against 193, m a community composed mainly of farmers, and .that, too, in spite oi the hostility ot Nir ‘J. G. Wilson and “The farmers’ Union Advocate.'' In. New Plymouth the poll was taken on the day of tlie municipal election, and 780 ratepayers declared for rational taxation against a minority of 593, the majority oeing 187 in the face of the opposition of both the local papers amd all the “leading citizens.” ■ f Hating on unimproved values has now been adopted m the majority of rating districts. The system is in force ip 150 districts, including 33 counties. There have been fourteen attempts to rescind it, but of these only four have been successful, and in these four districts polls will shortly be taken to revert to rating on unimproved values; and they will succeed! Wo have captured every important centre of population in the North Island, except Auckland and Wanganui, and the ratepayers in each of these centres will shortly be given the opportunity of falling into line. It is thus safe to predict that before long the system 'will become general, that it will pass beyond the pale of controversy, and that people will wondei why we ever tolerated for an instant a system of taxation which fostered the greatest curso of society—monopoly of land.

At first sight, it may appear a matter of trifling importance to levy local taxation on the unimproved value of land, 'tlie recollection of a few facts, however, will suffice to convince any thinking man of tho fundamental importance of the principle involved. First, the reader should refleect on the opposition it arouses on tho part of the small number of rich men who have a vested interest in untaxed privilege. Secondly, it should never be forgotten that the reform raises tho whole question of taxation, and must certainly do much to bring home to the popular mind the truth that the common right of all to the land can bo asserted and secured by the simple use of the taxing power. Finally, I would point out that the local revenue from rates is steadily increasing. Last year it amounted to £2,671,933. Assuredly, to place all that taxation on the unimproved value of land will bo to take a great stride towards tho realisation of the greatest reform on this side of the grave—'ithe destruction of land monopoly and the restoration of the people Jto their brithright.' j Owing to the Btudied mißrepresenta tion on the part of the official organn of land monopoly of the 'type of "The Farmers' Union Advocate," there are still many people who discuss the question of land-value taxation as though lit affected nobody but farmers. It is obvious, of course, that the land question is of equal importance in town and country, but I question if many people realise how groat is tho unimproved value of urban and suburban land. The total unimproved value of all the taxable land in this country is £260,666,218, but of this represents tho unimproved value of borough lands, although the total area of all the boroughs in New Zealand is only 234,652 acres 1 In this connection, by the way, it is interesting to note that more than half the unimproved value of the boroughs is represented by the four chief cities.

This country, nearly as large as tho United Kingdom, has about nino people to the square mile, and yet the majority of tho people are landless, and overcrowding exists in every eentro of population. This truly scandalous condition of affairs can be ended for all time, but only in one way. Our plain duty, therefore, is to work continually and persistently for the further taxation of tho unimproved value of land. By that means alone shall aggregation and overcrowding become memories of the bad past. P. J. O'REGAN. May 13th.