RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUES.

Waikato Argus, Volume XI, Issue 1034, 29 August 1901, Page 4

RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUES.

Our efforts we must not relax The stability of any nation, Depends upon just taxation; To bring about the single tax,—T.C. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Mr Mandeno’s letter is full of interesting matter re rating on unimproved values. Mr Mandeno commences on the single tax which he admits is coming to the front and will have to be fought out. Mr Mandeno advises every one who has an interest in the country to have a clear and decided opinion on the subject, and not be led away by plausible talk. I agree to all this. All we want is discussion. Wo believe our cause will be strengthened and advanced by discussion. Mr Mandeno says I made two misleading illustrations. Ist, My remarks about the Ngaruawahia section which sold for £t, and the city section wffiich sold for over £9,1)00. He says, I agree that this proves the proposal will effect the town more than the country. I am not concerned if country lands or town lands carry the most economic rental values. What concerns me most is I wish to se i all the true economic value of all lands collected as revenue and used for public purposes. That great philosopher, Herbert Spencer, writing on the land question (this is the last question) in 1850, wrote thus : ‘ We have simply to enquire what is the verdict given by pure equity in the matter. And this verdict enjoins a protest against every existing pretention to the individual possession of the soil; and dictates the assertion that the right of mankind at large to the earth’s surface is still valid ; ail deeds, custom, and laws notwithstanding.’ Spencer says instead of tenants (or land users) paying rent to the agent of Sir John and Sir Grace they will pay it to an agent of the community. 2. Mr Mandeno says I mentioned landlords living in luxury and labourers doing all the work going abou hungry. Mr Mandeno seems to see no wrong in this because this system exists more or less in many other countries. Mr Mandeno says the real thing is should improvements pay, I maintain private improvements should not be rated or qaxed untjl every pennyworth of unimproved values (or rental value) is collected. When ibis is done the two men Mr Mandeno mentions can take up bush land or buiht an hotel, and neither will be asked for any tax on their improvements because the rent of land (using general terms) which is the States’ wages, will be sufficient for State purposes. It is as possible for a State to live beyond its means ua it is for an Individual to do so. The work of the true statesman is to mike the most and best use of the State wages. If this were done it would not be necessary for so much (if any) borrowing, but alas, we have politicians instead of statesmen at the head of aft'iirs. Mr Mandeno trots out the old argument —Taxation should be guided by two things; Ist, the amount of benefit received, and 2nd, the ability to pay. If this idea were carried to its logical conclusion the ability to pay would lead to endless confusion. For instance, when a person posted a letter the postmaster would need to know how much each sender was able to pay, and the same process would apply to customs duties and railway travelling. When calls are made upon a private company those that hold the most shares pay the most in calls ; ability to pay has nothing to do with it, just an in taxation? those who use the most shares in land rent should pay the most in taxation. When a settler gets a loan of, say £IOO, from the Government, he pays £5 per annum for its use. No one is startled or complains, but when a land holder gets the use of £IOO woith of land values (which amounts to the same thing) and asked for a fair return for its use, our opponents cry out confiscation, robbery. Taxation acuoiding to privilege conferred is sufficient for all purposes. Mr Mandeno says I do not mention single tax. Now I believe in nailing our colours to the mast head. Rating on unimproved Values is tbe single tax applied to local affairs (or local single tux). At present the assessor rates a settlor so much on his house, so much on his orchard, his outbuildings. his fences, gates, drains, etc., lumped together as improvements, so he pays many rates, but by the new method be will pay only one single rate—i.e., on his unimproved values only. The general tone of Mr Mandeno’s letter shows that he is trying to find out what is right and just, If all diet this, we should, as he says, get on much belter.—l am, etc., T. Cablbss.