The Hastings Standard Published Daily SATURDAY, DEC. 11, 1897. UNIMPROVED VALUES.

Hastings Standard, Issue 499, 11 December 1897, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily

SATURDAY, DEC. 11, 1897. UNIMPROVED VALUES.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

The measure conferring upon Counties and Municipalities the power, on a poll of the ratepayers being carried, to rate upon unimproved values, does not appear to have " caught on" in New Zealand. Two or three boroughsincluding Palmerston North and Pahiatua —have resolved to try the experiment. The result of the change in the system of rating, which cannot be made until March next, will be watched with interest throughout the colony. Many boroughs have rejected the new system because they are apprehensive of the result. And rightly, too. Eating upon unimproved values is right enough in theory. It does seem unfair that the progressive man, who spends his money for the advancement of a town, should be taxed for his enterprise, whilst the man who does nothing, and thrives upon the unearned increment, should escape taxation. But how to remedy this state of things is a problem which has not yet been solved. Eating upon unimproved values may go some distance towards catching the proper parties. But there is a danger that the cure will be worse than the disease. Take Hastings for an example. Here we have probably the largest borough in the colony, embracing numerous vacant sections. Assuming that the system of rating upon unimproved values were adopted here, what would be the result ? The rates upon hotel properties and such like would be decreased, whilst those upon vacant allotments would be put up. The man who leases a shop would have his rent raised, to enable the owner, who has perhaps several vacant Allotments-in the town, to pay the is- 1

creased taxation. Those having vacant sections, instead of building houses or shops upon them which would remain unoccupied, would dispose of their property at the earliest possible opportunity. This would be the effect of the change in Hastings. And what happens here might reasonably be expected to happen elsewhere. The new system would lead to endless confusion, without commensurate advantage. In many Counties the effect may be a little different, but in townships like Hastings it would be suicidal to adopt the system of rating upon unimproved values.