FEDERAL LAND TAX

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7209, 18 August 1910, Page 5

FEDERAL LAND TAX

ASSESSMENT BILL PRIME MINISTER MOVES SECOND READING. INTERESTING COMPARISONS. Bjr Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. MELBOURNE. August 17. In tho House of iveprcsontativGS, tho prime Minister, Sir 'Fisher, in moving the second reading .of the Land Tas Assessment Bill, said it was not a taxing measure, but one to give power to collect a tax. Tho principle of the Bill had been, affirmed by every ‘SCato in the Commonwealth but one, and also in Now Zealand. It should help to check the tendency to increase tho popi elation in towns, as against tho country. He showed that Now Zealand had a, population of 8.75 per square mile to iTie Commonwealth's 1.47. The population of Wellington mis 7.67 per cent, of tire total population, while that of Sydney was 37A, and of Melbourne 43.2, of fehoir respective States. In Australia during lato years thorn had been an increase in largo estates, whereas in New Zealand they had decreased to tho extent) of 4 per cent. This was apparently attributable to the influx enoe of tho unirupros-'od laud taxation. Mr Fisher added: “ I could give extracts to show' that the imposition, of a. laud tax in New Zetland has improved' tho conditions of tins people." The Government, h o continued, anticipated getting about a million poundfl from the tax during; the present financial year. This h;ut been more than swallowed up in defence. The object ivas to raise tho revenue to carry on to.* groat services of tho Oommonwoalthe Absentees would bo penalised to tire extent of a penny; ilihoy would hawo no exemption.

The debate was aitjoumcd till the 24th lust.