LANDOWNER PAYS MORE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 505, 7 November 1928, Page 10

LANDOWNER PAYS MORE

TAXATION ON FARMERS MISS MELVILLE EXPLAINS “The position of the big land holder in respect to tax payments was explained last evening by Miss E. Melville, Reform candidate in Roskill, who spoke at the De Luxe Theatre, Mount Albert, and replied to criticism of the Government by her United opponent. Miss Melville reminded her audience that a special war tax had been imposed during 1914-19, and declared that land tax had to be paid irrespective of whether the season was good or bad. In the event of default in a bad season, the tax became a charge on the property even in the event of sale. The large owner actually paid more in land tax than he would in income tax.

On a property with an unimproved value £IBO,OOO the land tax would be £5,593. If the property were sold at this valuation investment of the money at 6 per cent, would bring in £IO,BOO a year, and the income tax without exemptions would be £2,430. The State therefore would obtain more than twice as much revenue by land tax as by income tax. Miss Melville was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence.