MUNICIPAL RATING.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14211, 28 May 1910, Page 7

MUNICIPAL RATING.

THE TWO SYSTEMS. Mr Johan Hansson, a recent Swedish visitor to tiic Dominion, lias published j <!• pamphlet on -'Land Value Taxation I in New Zealand," as the result of his observations. Reviewing the pamphlet, tm English writer remarks-.—'•The most interesting and, in general, the most valuable part of the' little "book is_ the chapter dealing with the results of the local land value tax. Towns and cities that have adopted the reform have grown at a, much more rapid rate than those that have retained the old system of taxation. The. statistics relating to the growth of the towns which have adopted a land value tax and those which have not are especially illuminating. In towns not applying a tax to land values exclusively for local purposes, the increase m population from 1901 to 190G was 15.5 per cent. ; in those that had adopted the land value tax the increase was -20 per cent. The value of the improvements increased 36 per cent, in the former towns and 82.3 per cent, in the latter; and, most remarkable of all. the value of the land, which the land value tax 'robs of its value,' increased only 51.9 nor cent, in the towns with the'old form of taxation, as compared with 105.2 ner cent, in tlie towns whore the land value was taxed. This is one of the best practical arguments for the land value tax available. By taxing land values only the source from which taxation is derived lias increased at so ram'd a rate that the revenue of the towns has been more than doubled in five vears, with only a 29 per cent, increase" in population. And. at the same time, no industry no private enterprise, no individual earnings, have been called upon to contribute to the common fund. If New Zealand has been able to accomplish so much in so short a time, comparatively undeveloped as it is, what could not be accomplished in a country well established ?" |