Untitled

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3069, 17 March 1892, Page 2

Tnr. subject of raising farm values, which was touched upon by " Ratepayer" in a recent issuo, is one likely t,o attract a considerable amount of attention before very long. .A s we have frequently pointed

out, the present system of land taxation has cunningly appealed to the selfishness of the small holders for their support, inasmuch as an exemption up to a certain point for improvements practically relieves the majority of settlers from any payment under it. This was evidently occupying the minds of landowners when the assessors appointed under the Act recently called upon them, and the matter of local taxation was completely overlooked. One of the first results has been a very considerable increase in the values of nearly all agricultural holdings. Whether the assessors have, or have not, led the owners astray, as to the values to be used for local rating, is no part of our purpose to discuss. What we desire to direct attention to is the present system of valuing every building, fence, ditch, etc., in addition to whatever amount the assessor may, in his superior wisdom, consider the unimproved value of the land, Under these circumstances the value of country properties is based not upon what they are really worth in the market, but upon what they ought to be. As a proof of this, we know of more than one farm, which taking it at the highest market value, had, after deducting the cost of improvements effected upon it, nothing whatever left to represent the unimproved value. In fact nothing short of an immense increase in the nominal values of country properties, can possibly result from the present complicated system of assessment; and we believe this to be one of the primary objects sought for. As we have already said many small farmers have been cajoled into supporting the present Ministry with the promise, that under the new regime, the big men and companies would be the only sufferers. However, by the time our small land owners and struggling settlers see as they soon will do—for the abolition of any exemption in land values is, we believe, only a matter of time—these country properties, upon which families can scarcely,' even by hard work make a decent living, paying more taxation than town .businesses which occupy only a small plot of ground, yet have an annual turn over of many thousands, then, we say, they will be better able to detect the true tendency of the present legislation. " The land belongs to the people." " The land must bear all the burdens." This is the cry of our present rulers, and a capital cry it is, for those who have no land. But it clearly behoves our agriculturists to band themselves together for self-defence, before they become completely, the willing serfs of powerful trades unions, and societies of all kinds, which can between manhood suffrage and organised combinations control, not only the government of the colony, but practically dictate the laws under which the agriculturist shall be allowed to live.