RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12027, 25 July 1902, Page 7

RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUES.

: ' TO , THE EDITOR. Sir,l feel sure that this unimproved value legislation, is only a passing craze, and if ' our members and the publio could see what I see in the subject they would drop it, and rate on the rental value, which is really taxing "rent." " .. .; Any land that has no rental" value,] should not be taxed at all, so that it may remain cheap while out of use. I suppose the objeot of. rating on the unimproved value is to make land cheap, but I contend thai it will not have that effect. • The measure is a rich man's measure, and will enable the wealthy people to rob the poor main, find when the land is in the hands of a few rich people the price will again rise far above its present level, as only a few people will have the power to purchase. The history of China is being re-" peated here, and will help to bring about the extremes of riches and poverty of that country. It is one of the most unjust measures that ever came beforo any Parliament, in that it means ruin to the poor man, and gain to the rich on every side. It is conceived in ignorance and born in blindness, and is a measure that will make it almost impossible to adjust taxation fairly on those who are best able to bear it— am, etc., A. Sanfokd.