RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 March 1920, Page 2

RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUE.

To the Editor. Sir,—When the people of Now Plymouth decided to take a poll on tho very unfair way of rutins on capital value lu favor of rating on unimproved value, your columns were freely used both for and against the proposal'. There were those who held that for a town so widely scattered and sparsely populated rating on unimproved value would not be fair for those living on the outskirts of the town, nor would it. he tor the best interests of the district in general. Others held that it would b«» tho means of pushing the town ahead!. I am one of these, and compelling holders to either build on their sections or part with them. Sir, I think *ve can already see the effect of the change. Now, Sir, my object in writing is to draw the attention of my former friends to the fact that on Saturday, the 20th, a poll will be taken of ratepayers in tho Taranaki County in favor of rating on unimproved value, but. beyond the notice appearing in the papers no public discussions whatever have taken place. In view of the great Importance of this question. it is to be regretted that some of our leading men have not given us the benefit of their opinlop. Truly we farmers are easy going. Is it that we are too busy or that we don't rare? I hope at this late hour a little more interest will be taken in this question. I have always held that the present system of rating is unfair. It is often said that the farmer who improves his farm is able to pay. My experience is that the hard working and struggling man Improves his farm, and the speculator, who never takes off his coat, reaps the benefit in the shape of increased value that he has done nothing for, not even by paying a fair rate, I have heard it said that rating on unimproved value may be good for the towns, but it would not work in the country. This is simply rot. There is no reason why it should not be as good for the country as for the town. At any rate, when a farmer puts up a few chains of fencing or hangs a gate—l mean a Teal gate, not what Is known as a "Taranaki pate"—he would not feel that sooner or later be would be taxed for it. The greatest good, however, that would be the result of rating on unimproved value is, in my opinion. that it would be the means, or, at least, help to bring hundreds of acres of w?ste land into profitable occupation. I hope ratepayers will roll up and vote 011 Saturday, and give a lead to other districts. There are thousands of acres in the Taranaki County , that could be made to produce. At present they are a disgrace t-o their owners and a drawback to the district. Under rating on unimproved value this would not be, 'because holders could not afford to keep them in their present state.—l am. etc., J. A. KURTH.