UNIMPROVED VALUE.

Otaki Mail, 5 March 1919, Page 3

UNIMPROVED VALUE.

MK P. J. O’BEGAN AT OTAKI. Mr P. J. O’Began, a strong advocate for the rating on unimproved values, addressed a meeting in the Druids’ Hall on Monday night, when some fifty persons were present; Mr Byron Brown (chairman), in introducing Mr O’Began, said some IS years ago that gentleman had visited Otaki to give an address on the'same subject as was at present occupying their attention, but no good had come of it. However, the move had been started again, and he (Mr Brown) asked all to think dispassionately of it. Mr O’Began said, during the course of an interesting and instructive address, that taxation was looked upon by some as an evil, but in his opinion this was not so, and he gave instances in support of his contention. Taxation was inevitable, but some taxes were unjust. Ho urged that improvement of land should bo given encouragement, and if rating on unimproved value was adopted it would bo no injustice, but a good .thing for the town. If the poll was_ not carried it meant that three years had to elapse before another poll could bo taken, but if carried he ventured to say that those who had been advocates against it would, at' tho end of that time, be strong supporters of it. It would be found that tho proposal, if carried, would be a great success, and he predicted that once it was put into effect it would < prove a God-send and a permanent benefit to all. Mr O’Began was, at the conclusionof his address,' accorded a hearty vote of thanks, A similar compliment was passed to the chairman.