THE ABSENTEE LANDLORD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 91, 21 August 1913, Page 5

THE ABSENTEE LANDLORD.

HOW TO RATE HIM? [Per Press Association.] Wellington, August 21. At tho Counties Conference to-day, Mr Ryder, the Castlepoint representative, moved that the Government be asked to -so amend the rating powers of, county councils as to give them power to levy on every absentee landowner a rate to be known as tho “absentee rate,” which shall consist ol an additional percentage not exceeding ten per cent, on every general rate and separate rate that might be levied on his property in any yeas following that in which the owner has not resided within the county for ai least six months. The mover said that In! his count.;, there were a lob ot absentee ratepayers who did not improve their pro pertios to half the same extent as resident ratepayers. The result wa. 1 that the latter were indirectly taxe; to make up for tho absentees’ short comings. The Chairman: Have you tried rat ing on unimproved value? Mr Ryder: Y'es; and wo dropped it The motion was lost.