LAND VALUES LEAGUE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17192, 12 June 1916, Page 2

LAND VALUES LEAGUE.

CHRISTCHURCH BRANCH. A meeting of the Christ church branch of Uio Land Ya'iiies League was hold on Friday, and the following resolutions were passed: " With regard to war nmince, this meeting urges the Government tc tax heavily—before it is too late—the war profits which have been and still are accruing to a section of tlie people of New Zealand by way of higher prices directly due to the war. Wo would draw special attention to enhanced prices accruing- to the exporting primary producers and the abnormal freight rates reaped by the shipping interests." •"Wo would further urge tire Government, in order (a) to reduce the cost of living, and (b) to increase employment and wages, to increase the existing land values taxation at least ihrcepenco in the pound without exemption, the money thus raised to bo applied to the reduction of Customs taxation. "Wo further urge increased land values taxation on the ground that it would greatly relieve the depression which under ordinary conditions might, bo expected to follow the conclusion of the war. The cessation of hostilities will set free an enormous amount of labour which will seek an outlet upon tho land, and the effect of the land tax will bo not oiilv to break up land monopoly id its worst phases, but to induce the very best appropriate use of all unused or only partially used land. Tho immediate effect of our policy must bo to greatly increase the demand for labour and to raise wages all round Such a policy would render unnecessttrv Sir Eider Haggard's mission Zealand in the interests of returned soldiers. " Wo would call the attention of tno bovantment to tho fact that lands held by reh"iciw bodies are at the present time free from rate»-and taxes, tho direct " s " u °j which i" to increase the rate arid tax burden uoon the other landowners. The effect 01 these- exemptions is to compel tho people at largo to subsidise certain religious denominations with which they may have no rympathv As an instance of this we would drawattention to the DilUvorth Trust, in Auckland, which holds land worth a very large sum of money, end which pays no rates, thus increasing the rate charge on all other properties We urge, therefore, that these exemptions should be abolished."