The Pahiatua Herald. with which is incorporated THE PAHIATUA STAR. Published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 1897. TO MORROW'S POLL.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume V, Issue 511, 18 June 1897, Page 2

The Pahiatua Herald. with which is incorporated THE PAHIATUA STAR. Published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 1897. TO MORROW'S POLL.

To-morrow the poll will be taken on the proposal to strike future local rates on unimproved values. The matter has now been thoroughly threshed out, both in the columns of this journal and on the public platform and the issues may now he l.»ft to the rate payers themselves to decide. They are the interested parties who will have to “ pay the piper ” ; consequently every individual should endeavor to record his or her vote on the proposal. Last night’s meeting did not, unfortunately, make the issues much clearer. An unfortunate misconception on the part of the convener led him into a denunciation of the single tax, under the apparent impression that that and rating on unimproved values wore synonymous, it should he unnecessary to point out that the single tax aims at abolishing all customs 'duties and substituting instead one tax and that on land values. The rating on unimproved values will merely adjust local taxation and remove burdens from the shoulders of industrious and progressive residents to thoso of monopolising absentee speculators, who under tho present system reap huge benefits from residents’ expenditure of capital and energy and pay nothing for them. Tho holding of corner sections and central business sites by hungry absentees to secure tho increment earned by others has done and is now doing incalculable damage to this town. Rating on the unimproved values is calculated to compel these absentees to either use these sections or sell to those who will use them. There is no question of purchasers not being available; liberal offers have repeatedly been Anado for ’ «

tions by men prepa. i to build and improve the town, aftd, have been refused. In all justice it is right that the people who are fattening at the expense of the deserving taxpayer should now be compelled to contribute a fair proportion towards the cost and up-keep of those privileges which assist to give a value to their land. The matter rests with ; the ratepayers, They have toi morrow an opportunity such as wilt not present itself again for another three years. It is in their power to alter the prevailing iniquitous system and substitute one that is equitable and just. Therefore every ratepayer should consider the matter carefully and w’eli, and as a duty he owes to himself and hi 3 fellow citizens, record his vote at to-mor-row’s poll.