THE LAND QUESTION

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1536, 7 August 1901, Page 62

THE LAND QUESTION

BATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUES.

PUBLIC MEETING.

A public meeting convened by the Single-tax League was held in the Exchange Hall on the 30th ult., when addresses were delivered on the rating on unimproved values system. There was A small attendance. The Mayor (Mr J. G. W. Aitken) said the meeting had been called for the purpose of discussing the question of rating on unimproved values, and especially with reference to the Bill that was desired to be passed through Parliament. Councillor James Godber, in a letter apologising for his unavoidable absence, said he trusted that the Bill now before Parliament, making rating on unimproved values mandatory, would be passed this session.' Mr William McLean, in the absence of Mr G. Fowlds, M.H.R., who was away in the north, moved the first motion, “That this meeting expresses satisfaction At' the proposal of the Government to make the Rating bn Unimproved Values Act mandatory, but is of opinion that section 20 of the Act, exempting rates in respect of water, gas, electric light, sewage, and charitable aid, from the operation of th© Act,: is a defect which should be repealed, s° that the system of rating on unimproved values should apply to all rates without exception.’ He aaid that no measure would benefit the people more than this one, provided it were passed in a proper spirit. He argued against exemptions from the system, saying that they would allow certain persons to reap benefits from the industry of . others, and to escape contribution in rates which properly they ought to be called upon to make. Mr H. Betts, chairman of the Inangajhua County Council, seconded the motion. He gave particulars of the result of the working of' the rating on unimproved values system in that county. The system, he said, had worked very

well there. A number of persons who opposed Mr O’Regan and himself three years ago, when they fought for the introduction of the system, would not be parties to its abandonment now. The system had been the means of encouraging settlement to a large extent in the outlying parts of the county, and it had also been the means of largely encouraging the development of mining resources. Inangahua was the first county in New Zealand to adopt the system, and he did not think that in the whole of the county to-day a dozen men would be found who were opposed to it. Mr H. G. Ell, M.H.R., in supporting the motion, emphasised th© point that under the system advocated small owners would not be penalised. The greater part of a working man’s possessions wer© his cottage and its contents, and the lesser part his land. Therefore the system would not act oppressively on small owners. Referring to the districts in which the system had been adopted, he pointed out that in no instance had there been any movement in them to return to the former system. In Queensland the system had been in operation for twelve years, in town and country alike. It was the only system on which local rates were collected there. The motion was carried unanimously.

Mr P. J. O’Regan proposed, “That having regard to the disparity between the amounts paid in taxation by landed property (notwithstanding its continual increase in value by the growth and progress of the .colony) and that paid bv the masses of the people through the Customs, this meeting is of opinion that the time has arrived for an increase of the land tax and a proportionate reduction in Customs taxation; and we believe, further, that in addition to the immediate relief of the great majority of the people, such a change in the incidence of taxation would have a far reaching end beneficent effect in pre. venting fictitious land values, and in compelling the proper utilisation of large and valuable areas now withheld from settlement.” He said that the rating on unimproved values system had now passed beyond the region of controversv. Mr Thomas Orr : No, no. (Laughter.) Mr O’Regan said the only industry that had reason to fear land taxation was the “vacant lot industry.” If the people were to agitate for the reduction of Customs taxation and the increase of land taxation, and were successful, more good would be done to the general community, and more would he done for the amelioration of the condition of the masses, than would be done by fifty In dustrial Conciliation and Arbitration Acts.

•Mr G. Laurenson, M.H.R., who seconded the motion, said h e wanted to see the land tax doubled. Even then it would be too little; it would not be proportionate to the benefits derived by those who paid the taxation. The lease in perpetuity system was described by Mr Laurenson as iniquitous. Generations yet unborn would, he said, rise up and curse those who were responsible for it. Factory and other legislation was only the heaping up of plaster on a festering sore. Until they reached the land ques_ tion, they would never be able to do any lasting good in the way of reform. Mr A. W.jHegg, M.H.R., said that so far very little progress had been made with the land question in New; Zealand. With the present improved state of the education of the people, he was, however, very hopeful that reforms would be effected before long. There was a key at the disposal of +he Government which, if it was only turned, would unlock the land better than any other means. That key was the progressive land tax.

The motion was carried unanimously. It was resolved that a deputation wait on the Premier to bring the resolutions before him, and, through him, before the Government.

On the motion of Mr I. Singer a vote of thanks was accorded to the Mayor and the various speakers-