THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1919. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Otaki Mail, 28 February 1919, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1919. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Eating on Unimproved Values. i 'Airmailempt is to be made, on fTuesday next. 4th inst., to effect a most im•partaJit change, in the system of .rating in the Otaki Town district, a poll being taken ori that date on the adoption or otherwise of the system of rating on unimproved values. In a recent issue we set forth at length the procedure to be "adopted in such-a* change as that proposed in Otaki, and the general • provisions of the Act with re-t-peet to sanie. Briefly speaking, the main object in adopting the system of rating on the unimproved values is to encourage people to make the best use of their properties, by erecting buildings and in other ways. racier the system of rating at present in vogue, immediately a man improves his property up goes the rateable value, and his rates are increased. Thus a man is penalised for effecting improvements, which is obviously wrong. It: the proposed change is made, any local ralepayers with highly improved properties 'will pay less in rates than formerly, while those who hold land totally unimproved, or whose improvements arc very 'slight, will have to pay more. The man who drains a swamp, who cultivates a field, who builds a house—in a word, who does anything to improve his property—must incidentally benefit the whole community, for the making of improvements not only implies the employment of labour, but the constant application of labour to maintain them. Consequently the best interests of the community lie in encouraging occupiers of land to put it to the fullest use. To tax their improvements, as is done under the present system, is to apply the most effective discouragement. All who wish to see Otaki progress as a town should record their votes on Tuesday next in favour of the proposed change of rating, and do thei»' best to persuade others to do so also, for by removing the penalty on improvements —which the present system of rating practically amounts to—they should encourage property holders to make the very best 'of their holdings, and effect improvements which they would not dream of making if subject to rating on the capital value. Otaki is so placed that the carrying of Tuesday's poll should be peculiarly beneficial to Otaki. under existing conditions, and wo therefore urge ratepayers to carefully consider the matter, and record their votes in favour of the proposed change of rating system.