SINGLE-TAX THEORY.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 184, 16 September 1897, Page 2

SINGLE-TAX THEORY.

o Ma POWLDS, of Auckland, gave an address before the Patcrangi Mutual Improvement class on Thursday last on the " Ethics of Taxation," which means single-tax, or, in other words, that all revenue is to be raised by a tax on land, Mr Powlds is a very eloquent speaker, to whom, apart from the subject, it is a pleasure to listen to, as lie seems to thoroughly understand his subject, and is never at a loss for the right word. He spoke for upwards of an hour and a half, and went largely into figures to show that a tax of 5 psr cent, on the unimproved value of all land l.dd in New Zealand would yield more than our present revenue, pud that we could therefore at one:! do away with Customs duties and relieve to a great extent tho poorer classes. Government statistics showed th.it the average amount paid by each family of live persons for Customs duties was £ls Lis, and this with wholesale and retail profits would amount to nearly £25, and, of course, labourers of all kinds who now paid little or no direct tax would at onee be in the happy position of having lemitted £25. Many of the small farmers would al-o benefit, as they would probably not pay more than from Co to L'l2 under the singletax. Tho speaker, however, admitted that for the larger landholder the new system might, be worse. Mr Powlds said, according to .statistics, about onethird of the land values was in cities, while about another third was held by companies and various institution with headquarters in cities, either in trust, <r as security or otherwise, while the remaining third was oecupi' d by bona fide farmers, and then went on to show that the Single-tax would not press so heavily on the " poor farmer " as the opponents of the tiix wished him to believe, lie then gave a sketch of a plan or system under which rent for various lands would be assessed, dividing all lands of a pioductive value into live different qualities ; giving to the best (taking quality of land into consideration, near ness to markets and ether advantages) the highest rank, and to the land not so well situated, a lesser rank, grading from five to one, placing the pecuniary value per acre per year at the same figures. He claimed for every man a fair share of " God's earth," and spoke of re compensing those owning land, presumably to make the state the owner. At the close of the address, the Chairman invited criticism. Messrs Kay, Kybnrn, sent', and jun., Gerinanu, Finch, Ligertwood and the Chairman ; Mr Macky responded to the invitation. In reply to a question if he would take the duties off liquor, Mr Powlds said as that was put on from a moral point to keep down drunkenness, it might be well to leave it until some other or better mode of suppressing the evil were found. It was pointed out dining the criticism that a man with capital, invested in a bank, who was a lodger, would escape taxation, as also the professional man. The majority of the speakers favoured an income tax, as then each person would pay in proportion to what he received. What would be the result if the Customs duties were abolished? —lmportation in excess of requirements, and a consequent stoppage of all our various manufactories. It was also fchowu that, the figures quoted would not yield the revenue, as a large portion of the land had no value whatever, and therefore the rate would likely have to le tm or (iftceti per cent, instead of live. A vol-: or thanks to Mr Powlds for coining such a distance to deliver the address was passed unanimously. Their we:c between thirty and forty pi r. o: s pre tent, but not many converts made,- (Own Correspondent).