Taxing Lands Improved by Public Works.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4268, 5 September 1882, Page 2

Taxing Lands Improved by Public Works.

[By Telegraph], (from our own correspondent.) : Wellington, This day. The Beport of the Committee on Special Taxing for Public Works was brought down this morning. The first seven sections of the Report are merely recapitulation of the last experience, and goes on as follows with others :—B. That there,is no evidence in any of the acts relating to public works of an intention to specially " tax property increased in Value by the construction with public money 'of railways, roads, bridges, harborsVanctother public works." 9. That, in the opinion of the Committee, " the principle oh which. such taxation can be justified is reaft&able, but, so far as the Committee^'^aw^re, it has never hitherto been sui^s'isTiillj acted on by any;, Government." fl.o. ,|Bna%Athe;:,pommitte£ have carefully considered- th^ practicability of giving effect -to Hfat'w'inciple, and, with that view, SftTe^di«HrtflfjSd the „ : several propositions V4^ to AAfry "out that object. 11. ThaT'Jn^r>^ffftQ, r which former legislation suggests |if;-; specially taxing provincial districts, the? Committee reject as involving serious unfairness in , many cases, and as being opposed altogether to a national system of public works, especially railways. 12., That the rating of the property has been proposed as an easy and equitable mode of obtaining a contribution for "tb©"' additional' value given to properties by public works'. ' This involves such large and very complicated questions, that.the Committee are not prepared to give any -„ opinion astb such a plan which could,., of^ course, be easily carried out, but would probably be very unfair in its operations. In many cases it would lay additional burdens on a property not benefited by public works expenditure, while, Crown and native lands, and'property below £500 in value, however much they might be benefited, would make no contribution. 13. That .the proposition to tax only properties specially increased in value appears, at first sight, to be fair, but as regards the past is open to the ■ objection that in many cases probably-the. majority of the present owners having become purchasers since the construction of/ the works benefited their properties hare already paid for the enhanced value in the purchase money. 14. That the same objection is not applicable to the future, and the Committee see no objection to -apply to that extent the principle enunciated in the resolution of the^Housr, provided that the owners of property, to be affectedare heard by Parliament before expendi-, ture is incurred. 15. The .Committee is of opinion that when any railway or portion of a railway made out of the proceeds of any future Loan Acts shall be open for traffic if, the net returns', from such railway or portion of a railway after deduction of working expenses, and all costs of repairs and permanent way, rolling stock and plant, b» not sufficient to pay the interest.upon the money expended in making such railway or'portion of a railway, then the Governbr-in-Coun-cil shall raise an amount sufficient to paysuch interest by levying a tax,on the increased value of all land., benefited by the formation of such line of railway. 16. • That any public works to be commenced henceforth shall be undertaken on the condition that property which may be specially benefited by such works,-shall be . subjected to such special charge or treaty ment as the General Assembly may here* after determine. 17. That having regard to the limited time at their disposal, the Committee are not prepared to suggest the, necessary legislation, and they recommend that the subject should -be carefully con* , sidered during the recess, and taken up by the Assembly in theirVne'xt session.; i