NOT THE LEAST CONNECTION WITH THE SINGLE TAX!

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11724, 5 August 1901, Page 7

NOT THE LEAST CONNECTION WITH THE SINGLE TAX!

, TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—ln 70111* report of the meeting at St. James' Hall to discuss rating: oil unimproved values you report Mr. Webb to say that '' rating on unimproved values was no more single tax than the post office was socialism." A great many of the disciples of Henry George protest too much. . The apostle of single tax did not mince matters. As ho passed through Auckland some 12 years ago an address of welcome was presented to him at the Star Hotel by the Rev. A. H. Gulliver, E. A. Herald, and others of the Anti-Poverty Society; single tax was the anti-poverty platform. In the course of Mr. George's reply to that deputation he said:"Ten years ago Sir G. Grey save you what would have made you the leading English-speaking- community of the whole world, the root and the beginning of the single tax." Mr. George was here alluding to the unimproved land tax levied bv the Grey-Sheehan Government in 1879, which was id in the £. Mr. Powlds, in his speech, said that the rate on unimproved values in Auckland will- require to be about 3d in the £ to equal present rates on capital value. Mr. George would rejoice with his friends if he looked in again, per San Francisco mail-boat, and was informed that a tax of 3d in the £ was now levied on unimproved land values. He would say at once that the single tax plant had got past " the root" stage, and was growing famously, not perhaps half grown, yet if the good folks of Auckland paid attention to its proper cultivation it would come to maturity.—l am, etc., ANTI-HUMBUG, MB. FOWLDS. Now all are for a party. And none is for the State. —Macaulay (slightly altered). TO THE . EDITOR. Sir,— Fowlds is: paid £240 per annum for his services as a member of the House of Representatives. How is it that he can be released from his duties while Parliament is in session to barrack night after night for the platform of his pet association—the first instalment of the single tax? Would Mr. Seddon look on so approvingly if, say, Messrs. Massey or Lang came back to their constituencies while Parliament is sitting, and busied themselves setting the Farmers' Union on its legs? "No politics" then, you bet.—l am, etc., . . FAIR PLAY.