AGAINST SINGLE TAX.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 207, 29 August 1912, Page 7

AGAINST SINGLE TAX.

FARMERS ORJIAXTSTNG. (By Telegraph.— 1 Co-respondmit.) C'HBIRTcicURCH, this day. The North Canterfcmry branch of the Farmers' Union yetlterday occupied itseif for some time -ft'itli a discussion of the possibility of th<» single tax doclTime being given a prominent position in N«w Zealand politics in tlie nccr future. Mr ('. If. Ensor exhibited a number of newspapers containing ajrticles written from the single tax standpoint, and, as an instance of the act wit of the single taxere, he quoted the fact that the "N.Z. Times*' had wecently devoted four pages to articles by Mr A. Withy (secretary of the Single Tax League). ttie Hon. Geo. Fowlds, and Prof. W. T. _EUb. Mr Ensor said the single taxcre had captured tbe land policy of the Labour party, and there was danger -that the people of New Zealand mipAt become educated in such doctrines. if a policy of confiscation was to he preached farmers must frame a policy to protect themselves. The single tax, Mr Ensor continued, meant the confiscation of the land through the system of valuing. The single tax amounted to 5 per cent on the unimproved value, and the owner aright as well not own the land at all. If there was any body of men capable of formulating a sound laud policy it was the men who were out on the land. Mr .1-ohn Gregg said there were only, fourteen leaseholders in Parliament, and the freehold was not in danger. Mr G. Weld said tbe poisoned doctrines of the single tax were merely an appeal to the covetousness of tlie. ignorant. It -was finally decided to hold a special meeting on September 12 to discuss the matter of the union's policy.