THE LAND TAX.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5494, 26 June 1879, Page 6

THE LAND TAX.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l wis lately, in common with other land-ownera, called upon by Government to declare the value of my land. In doing bo I stated that two years ago I bad sold to two different purchasers 180 acres, "of more than average quality," for 10s an acre. Nothing could be more simple than to ascertain the truth of this statement at the Registry Office, and I have little doubt that the Waste Lands Board will admit that land has net increased in value dnring the last two years. I was surprised to receive intimation that my land has been valued in excess of the selling price of the best of it, and can only account for it on the supposition that the Government land-valuer has (of course unconsciously) made an over-valuation. At the same time, I am strongly of opinion that as he (the land-valuer) is also collector to the Whaugaroa (Raglan) Highway District, and in that capacity has for tome years received 50 per cent, of the rates of the district, he was not capable of forming a disinterested opinion of the value of the land. The land tax and highway rates threaten to tax out of their holdings many of those who are struggliug to make a living out of poor land, of which there is a considerable quantity in the Northern district of the island, and I now write to make what I consider a fair suggestion to save us from over valuation. Where the Customs duties are levied by an ad valorem rate, Governments reserve to themselves the right of taking the goods on paying the owners valuation, with a moderate addition by way of profit. I would now suggest that Government should be prepared to purchase lands they value in excess of the owner's valuation, and that without making any addition to the Government valuation.—l am, &c, J. C. Johnston. Te Harote, Raglan, Jane 23rd, 1879ne.