The Prevention of Poverty.

Otago Witness, Issue 1640, 28 April 1883, Page 12

The Prevention of Poverty.

The following is the scheme adopted by tha Working Men's Political Association of Christchurch as being more suitable than Major Atkinßon's National Insurance scheme for' the prevention of pauperism :— That the W.M.P.A. respectfully submit the following unanimous eonclu-ion of opinion to the Hod. Major Atkinson in reply to his invitation requesting their opinion, and public opinion generally, upon the scheme of National Insurance. 1. That while admitting that pauperism would bfl alleviated by the scheme of the Honourable Major they think it would be so at great sacrifice to- the working classes, on whom the burden would bo onomious. And while admitting that want of thriftdrink and tobacco may be collaterally responsible for much pauperism, the opinion of this Association is that the scheme of Major Atkinson would not remove the main causo. , 2. That the true, the obvious and glaring cause of pauperism in every country must be primarily in the unfair distribution of wealth ; and that as land ia the sour c of all wealth, and as all must live from land in one form or other— by cultivation, manufacture, or • exchange— the economic law which governs the distribution of wealth must therefore be the tenure of land. 3. That the present tenure of land ia a monopoly under private ownership, which prevents labour' having free access to land, except on arbitrary and extor-' tionate term 9, and which gives the power 'to'larsta landowners, financial companies, and other monopollet to grind the wages of labour to starvation pout, caua- ■ . ing poverty, and consequent drink and crime.. r ' 4. That on this basis we are of opinion' that ; tbV ' State should be the sole -owner of laid; th*t »H •hould hold land under it subject to a tax or rent on / the value of the land (in town or country), which- v&loe ' ' I should be assessed as often aa either the Stateor the ' holder may desire. <,-.,'' That all the revenue of the country should- be derived from the land by these taxes or rents, and all other taxes gradually abolished. ' - , In order to bring this into operation— :.~v. (a) That the Government should stop aDy. further sale of land. (6) That the frown lands should be open to the .",- people on a perpetual holding, subject "to a "~ tax ox rent of, say, 5 per cent, on their value, -' and subject to assessment wheuever dJ3aired, by either tne holder or tha Government.'-' . i I (c) That the lands now held in private ownership I should be taxed on their value or economic I rent (exclusive of improvements), subject to ' astossnient wheuever owner or Government may desire, the tax on land already pur. cha-ed to be either the same tax or rent put on the Crown lands, but deducting in assessmont the value of the purchase money paid " for them; or a tax on such an increasing graduated scale (commencing at a quarter per ' ' cent, on the value) aa would reach at the expiratlon of 14 yeara, say, the same amount' of tax or rent put on the unsold or Crown ■ lands— viz., say, 6 per cent . , By this method at the expiration of li years alir lands would be equally taxed on their value, e?clur ' <

■ire of improvements— or economic rent, making the tenure of nil land equal and the land practically nationalised. That we are of opinion that the result of this would be— 1. An enormous increase in the production of wealth, by reason of the laud being thus freely accessible to the people 2. That, consequently, the financial condition of tho Government wou d be enormously improved — wuuld be intlependtnt of the vitiating influence and power of bank or any other rings. 8. That the Government could, under these circumstances, introduce immigration on tho largest scale without fear of overstocking tho labour market. „, „ 4. That a more equal distribution of wealth would result in a higher social, intellectual, and political condition of the people.