THE SINGLE TAX THEORY.

Te Aroha News, Volume VIII, Issue 485, 5 July 1890, Page 2

THE SINGLE TAX THEORY.

“'Capt. Howard Kerr’s .brochure “ A Common-sense View of the Single Tax,” is an able reply to Mr-Henry George’s “Progress and Poverty.” Mr George’ fundamental argument for- the single taxon land is thus stated by him:—■ “ The equal rights of all men to the use of land is as clear as their equal right to breath the air—is a right proclaimed by the fact of their existence, for we cannot suppose that sonic men have a right to be 1 in the world and others no right.” Capt. Kerr shows that this argument cannot stop with land, but, must also involve an equal right to share every subject of property. Me might have gone further and argued that it also iucludes the equal right of foreign nations, such as the Chinese, for tbe benefit of their subjects, to enter upon and occupy the more fertile and better cultivated lands, and to share the other property, of neighbouring states. The result of the carrying out of the doctrine would,..therefore, be.national and international robbery, and public and private war throughout the world. The only possible communism is Christian communism, whose motive is iinselfislinv.-s. Mr George’s communism,'being actuated by selfishness, however beautiful in theory, is quite impracticable, for the very people, who now cry out for subdivision of property, would be the first tb object to it if they had any. Capt. Kerr ably disposes oi Mr George’s argument about the set tier who, by persevering industry, enormously'enhances the. value of the wilderness which he first occupied. He shows that there can he nothing hut justice in such a man getting a ! l the benefit accruing from Ids intelligent enterprise and labour. How, otherwise, can pioneers be expected to take to tin? wilderness, and make it blossom ns t ie rose? Even a philantropist thus benefiting- bis fellows would be powerlesswithout capital. Equal subdivision of land and property would result in the world’s progress ceasing ; for is it not the Fact that the grand motive of pioneersand adventurers, who spread civilisation, is the desire of gain? Dprive them of this : bring them to the dead level of Bellamy’s “ Looking Back,” all equally wealthy and unable to become more so, and people would simply do nothing, but put on fat, and consequently from non—.production and want of exercise, would eventually become physically, mentally, and morally, very lean ; in. fact starve. As the taxpayers are also the disposers of the taxes, therefore the single tax should logically restrict the franchise to the owners of land ; hut, as Capt. Kerr shows, this arrangement would not be submitted to by the .advocates for the single tax'. Capt. Kerf also' argues that the single tax would be unwise as it would make hostile land-owners, at present the most powerful supporters of the constitution. Many other powerful arguments against this tax are now adduced in the pamphlet.”—Bay of Plenty Times.—(Copies of Captain Kerr’s pamphlet, referred to above; may be obtained from Mr W, Wildman, Bookseller, Auckland.)