FEDERAL LAND TAX BILL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 898, 18 August 1910, Page 5

FEDERAL LAND TAX BILL.

ITS OBJECTS OUTLINED. MR. FISHER QUOTES NEW ZEALAND RESULTS. INCREASE OF BIG ESTATES. By Telcsrapli-l'reas Association-Copyright-Melbourne, August 17. In the I'oderal House of Representatives, the Prime Minister, Jl'r. Fisher, in moving the second reading of the land Tax Assessment Bill, suid it was not a taxing measure, biit onoi to give power to collect a tnx. The principle, of tho Bill had been affirmed by every State in the Commonwealth but one, and also in New Zealand.

It should help to check the tendency to increase. the population in towns, as against the country. He showed that I New' Zealand had a population of 0.75 per square mile to the Commonwealth's 1.47. Tho population of Wellington was 7.67 per centum of the total population, while that of Sydney was 37.2, and of Melbourne 43.2, of their respective States. In Australia, during lato years, there had been an increase in large estates, whereas in New Zealand they had decreased to the extent of i per centum. This was apparently attributable to the influence of the unimproved land taxation. Mr. Fisher added: "I could give extracts to show that tho imposition of a land tax in New Zealand has improved the conditions of the people." The Government, he continued, anticipated getting about a million pounds from the tax during the present financial, year... This had been moro than swallowed up in defence. The object was to raise tho revenue to carry on the gieat services of tho Commonwealth. Absentees would be penalised to the extent of a penny; they would have no exemption. ' Tho debate was adjourned till August 24. .