THE EXEMPTION OF IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCAL RATING.

Evening Post, Volume LIV, Issue 141, 11 December 1897, Page 2

THE EXEMPTION OF IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCAL RATING.

+~ TO THE EDITOS. Sib — I am very much pleased to know that this important matter is about being brought prominently before tbe notice of the ratepayers of Wellington, and that the reproach of indifference that now exists against her, while all the boroughi round about are taking such energetic steps to bring the new Rating Act into force, will be removed. Surely, Mr. Editor, yourself and everyone must see that the taxing of improvements it a bar to the making improvements, and is the taking from a man <i portion of that which rightfully belongs to him, and is his against the whole world, the tax - gatherer included. In fact, the whole thing (this taxing of improvements) is immoral and unjust in the extreme, and is accountable for more evils that we know of, and among other things the unemployed difficulty, for under present conditions a man who is thinking of spending his money in erecting houses has to take into consideration the large amount of extra taxation he will be subjected to, and many a man is deterred from building on this account. Then, again, how many propertyholders are led to keep their buildings in a dilapidated condition in order to avoid the extra taxes he would have to pay at the penalty for renovating them. Many an one is deterred even from employing a carpenter to put up a new gate and paling fence or adding a verandah, or an extra room, on account of the additional annual charge he would by «o doing render himself liable to. With these taxes on improvementi removed, people will be free to spend their money as they please without fear of being fined and punished for io doing, and consequently, a vast mm of money would be let loose to be circulated in the shape of payments to arohitecti, builders, carpenters, painten, bricklayers, aud other tradesmen. I hear this new system of rating is working splendidly in Palmerston, and I am quite nure it must work well wherever it is tried, simply because it i» based on right and justice. I am, &0., James Ghote. Clyde-quay, 10th December, 1897.