RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUES.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 May 1921, Page 4

RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUES.

“The Liberator,” the organ of the advocates of single tax and rating on unimproved land values, in its last issue, is very jubilant over the progress of New Plymouth, which it ascribes to the adoption of rating on unimproved values. Seeing that New Plymouth began to move two or three years before the new rating system came into force, we fail to see how the writer can substantiate his claim. The det is that the town has progressed despite the rating on unimproved values, not because of it. A good many people who before supported the new system have now had their eyes opened to its shortcomings, and as a result are far from enthusiastic over its operation? They have seen that some of the biggest ratepayers are being let off lightly, that it penalises those who desire to 'have a bit of land around their homes, and that the relief afforded, many of the smaller ratepayers is more imaginary than real. Just how much reliance can be placed upon the Liberator's statements may be guaged from the following:— “In addition to the usual borough rates, there is a harbor rate, and in virtue of Section 40 of the Rating Act, 1908, that also must be levied on the unimproved value. The result is that the rate is more than usually heavy Now, nobody in his senses would contend that if the old system of rating •had still been in Operation there would have been no building in New Plymouth, but the foregoing paragraph (relating to building activity in the twon) is a conclusive answer to those prophets of evil who opposed rating on unimproved values for that borough, and who still oppose its extension to other districts. Anyhow, our reform is now most popular in New Plymouth, and anyone proposing to rescind ic would get a bad time, indeed, I venture the opinion that he could not procure the requisite quota of signatures to the petition prescribed for the purpose. Surely the practical working of the system at New Plymouth should encourage our friends and supporters throughout New Zealand to work unremittingly for our cause?’

Of course there has been no harbor rate levied for many years.