HALVED LAND TAXES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 624, 29 September 1909, Page 7

HALVED LAND TAXES.

LIBERALS' DIVISION. CENTRAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. "POLITICAL CORRUPTION." By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) (Bee.- September 28, 10.40 p.m.) 1 «.. ■ . ■ . London, September 28. In the House of Commons tho Chancellor of tho Exchequer, Mr, Lloyd-George, ' moved a resolution charging tho Consolidated Fund annually with a sum equal to half tho proceeds of the duties on land values and mineral rights "(unearned increment duty of 20 per cent., reversion duty of 10 per cent., undeveloped land duty of Jd.'in the £on tho sito value, and 5 per cent, tax on mineral rents And royalties), 'which sunV'sh&ll be divided between . England, , Scotland, and Ireland, in such manner, and shnll' be paid into such separate accounts for. tho benefit of such local authorities as Parliament may 'determine. ' Mr. Lloyd-Georgo explained that it waS undesirable to' deal with tho apportionment of the money in detail.' This'new clause apportions a sum equally, between the Imperial, and tho local financial authorities, but hangs up a portion payable to tho local 'authorities, leaving tho matter to bo dealt with in 1910. '' Mr. Balfour criticised tho Government for Its changes of front. Ho remarked that'his own view was that the land taxes, if levied at all, should be devoted 6olely to tho interest of tho, localities in which they were raised. Apparently money which was described as due to the activity of particular localities was t;i, be distributed over the three Kingdoms. Tho resolution .opened tho door for political corruption. • Sir. Llovd-George: It is not a.town.alpn? gives the added; values to its adjacent land, but every other town in the district with, which it 'does business contributes, to tho' i*; suit. ; Vi', v' 1 /... no added that ho intended to consult the municipalities !with. regard.,to tho method of distribution of.'tho money. Ho favoured tho earmarking • of. it for specific, purposes. ■ . Tho resolution was agreed to by the House.-