Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1897. RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5563, 19 February 1897, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1897. RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUES.

Tin; North County Council is just now taking n -pklise-ik of its ratepayers to ascertain whether it is desirable to bold it poll to brinp rating on unimproved values into force in place of rating on capital values. It is thought that rating on unim-

proved values is it fairer way of distributing local burdens, though probably it is difficult to define the real unimproved value of land generally, and if flm innovation were adopted there would have lobe some rough and ready bed-rock values adopted, which might, or might not prove satisfactory to the settlers, Of course over a given area the same total of rates would have to be , collected as formerly, andas improve, would be eliminated from the rate it would be necessary to double or treble the present rating, ns might be requisite, in order to make up tho revenue required. Each man can judgo for himself, if bis land is highly improved lie should vote in favour of rating on the unimproved value, and on the other hand if it is in ii rough state lie would be a fool not to stick to the capital value.

There can be no doubt that bush settlers generally will be required to pay more than they are now expending on rates if the basis of an unimproved value be adopted, In the Act of IBSIG the Government has given them a whip with which tlioy may scourge themselves if they are unwise enough to make use of it, We fail ourselves to see any great advantage to be derived from a oliauge in tlio method of rating, bpi it is the fashion to change most tilings nowadays apd if settlers do not know when they are wpll pff, it is just as well that they should find out for themselves from tho best of teachers, experience, They will probably nsccrtain that those least able to pay will suffer by the change mid those best able to pay will lie relieved. This is the usual result of Liberal legislation in practice, although of course tlio theory of it is all that can bo desired.

Eyery settler wlio is asked to express tin opinion upon the present proposal can readily give an intelligent reply to it. He ran fairly gunge the unimproved value of the land which he occupies and if he doubles (he rate he is now paying on the capital valuo and figures out the pimjpved value on this j'afphe vjjl know whether he will gain or jose liy the a|teration, Assuming f hat' a settler possesses an unimproved property of one hmi<lr|!fl iici'gs, pow ya|ijed at per fi'Wi °ii m'Wvp**j !''!f e Pf '!■ ns|l"j; )I> M ,e PF if | total clinrgo (if 10s, ho niijfliP estimate fcho unimproved value of i bin section at £2 per acre and this at a double rate, say of 2d In the pound, would amount to £1 13s 4d, so that he would gain by tlio clmnge in tlio method of rating, On the other lmnd a settler possessing one hundred. acres of land, talned at £2 per acre, on which he is now paying a penny rate or 16s Bd, would lose by it, if called upon to pay 2d per pound on an, unimproved value of thirty shillings per aore.or a total i of £1 ss. Bach settler really wants | |jo ftorlf out a |jtt]o Mithmetioall Slralatif)|i jop himself fn order l to fjeaßleto'say wnetho'r a change to' pnipipi'oVeS' values as » lf basis of j fpr.iisbenefifl ; :

The'petition,against tlieretum of Mt George Fisher has been thrown out, but we do not regret tlmt it was lodged, It has been the means .of revealing the disgraceful. manner in which, elections arc conducted under .the present admin., istration and even the Premier will hardly venture to allow a repetition of tlio lacks which in December last discredited his Government, It may bo also pointed out that if in the City of Wellington, under tlio very eyes oE the Government, gross irregularities were condoned, if not sanctioned, by the administration,- what must have been the stale of things in more remote electorates? In country electorates there were many obvious errors to be deplored, more glaring than those which have been sworn to in the Empiro City, The last word has not yet been spoken respecting the delinquencies and the delinquents of the late general election I