RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 April 1919, Page 4

RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUE.

(To tho Editor.} Sir,—The late Mr. Henry George, the Californian prophet, was the father of the above system, which is, u you know, full sister to Madam Single-Tax, These two are the principal member* of MrGeorge's intelleotual family. They are both good looking girls, with a big defect in each. "Beauty's sometimes beet »et off afar"; and this is the ease with those two daughters of the late Mr. Henry George. They are both lop-sided, and, as a consequence, they waddle when they try to walk. He doubtless meant that they should be "the chiefest among ten thojsand," but he forgot to amalgamate with them money and intellect. No poor man with any kind of right sense ought to tie himself up to a mere sack of soil or to a piecs; of earth, and swear by thatl The greatest power, in the world to-day is intellect, or, rather, intellectual energy. Intellectual energy can make mtoney and buy land to its heart's content, and laugh and snap its fingers at Henry George's two daughters 1 And then, again, "Money makes the mare to go, whether she's a tail or no." Exactly I Money makes money. Money call also buy intellect and apply it to make money faster than it can make it itself. These two can reap the bulk of the people's harvest and call it theirs. These two can pretty well mop up the wealth of the earth, but they must not be taxed. But, why! Because Henry George said that all taxation should be on the land. And who is Henry George? A dead man in America! But he is dead. Yes, but he has left us two lop-sided waddlers, who have taken the fancy of a lot of one-eyed ratepayers. Mr. Dunderhead, lend roe your ear. Dio you see all those big houses, big shops, stores, warehouses, theatres, hotels, and banks? Well, these are all money-making institutions. Most of these will make more money for its owner in one day than you can make in fifty. These are all well able to pay rateß, and at present do pay rates. These institutions are paying a big proportion of the borough rates, and if you leave them as they are they will pay a, big share of the new loan rates also. It is the trade of these institutions that wear away your streets. All your borough loans and your harbor loans will be of more use to those institutions and their owners than they will be to anybody else. Let money pay. Let the money-making institutions pay, and not the mere seotion owner. Keep your ears out of your eyes, and then you will not be found trotting after that lop-sided, waddling daughter of the late Henry George.—l am, etc., J. 0. TAYLOR. April 23, 1919.