The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1894-07-20
Good Words from New Zealand.

Five years ago New Zealand was
suffering from all the horrors of land
lOrdism. Great tracts of land were
passing iate the hands of spectators
and were held out of USE In country
capable of supporting $4,000, 900
people, Il population of 10000 was
starving. The nation WAS nearly
bankrupt. The landlords and bunkers
ruled the colonial parliament and
made laws to suit themselves. Finally
the people got up ONE day us they did ia
Switzerland under similar conditions
about fifty years age, and elected
Legislature from their own numbers.
These men were all favorable to what
they call labor legislation Here We
call it populism.
"In three years time these are some
of the laws they passed and put in
operation:
| First-GOyernHlento ownership of rail-
ways, telegraph and telephone
systems and insurance.
Second-Graduated income tax.
Third-EXemptlon of homes from taxa
| ton.
-D;scouragement of alien
ownership of land the absentee taxi.
ifth-RestoratiOn of the land held for
speculative purposes to the people by
the imposition of heavy graduated
| land tax.
SlXth-Goverpment assistance to liu-
employed citizens.
''Also a law providing for the I'M
mediate collection of wages on demand,
which would rejoice the hearts of our
coal miners and street sprinklers. or
these laws. those relating to land only
are under consideration ut the moment,
though they are all concerned in the
general results. The land tax of New
Zealand is almost exactly on the plan
of the single tax of Henry George. All
improvements are exempt from taxa
ton. The rates of land taxes for 1898
for the ordinary tax were two-tiftiiS of
IL cent to the dollar. Land up to the
value Of 81 800 is exempt from taxation.
A farm worth 81, 800 would he taxed
Oh the excess of 81 500 or on 500. A
farmer with land worth 81 600 would
thus pay $6.i0 taxes.
''There is also graduated land tax
on the unimprOved value of land valued
| Of
twentieth of Cent to the dollar, and
rising TO four cents Oh the dollar, when
the land is worth 81 100000, so that
Il tract of that value would pay its.
ordinary tax, $4,000, and its graduated
tax, $40, 900, or $44, 900 taxes. In ad-.
ditlOn there is another tax OH land held
persons who have lived out Of the
colony for three years OF more. This
tax adds 90 per cent to all land taxes
OIL account of absenteeism. So that in
81 900, 900 wcrth of land the absentee
landlord would be taxed $88 in addition
to the $44 600 above computed.
"rhe results of this system have
been most favorable. The graduated
and 20 per cent tax are already break
ing up the great estates. Many Of
them are being freely offered to the
lgoyernipe:t at their taxable value,
while others are being cut up into
small farms and offered at auction.
1t was first intended to have triennial
valuations of the land. At that tin 9
improvements above s15, 900 were also
taxed. Now that al, improvements
are exempt from taxation, it is not
found necessary t. re dust s!e valua-
tion so often, AS the land varies little
in value from year to year. After the
the valuation is made, any one think
ing his assessment too high can submit
his objections to beard Of review,
chosen from residents of the district.
If this board sustains the report of the
assessors, he may demand that the
government take his land ut this pT:c,,
and the government must either reduce
to his figures or buy the land.
1.-The government has assumed con-
troll of all native lands, opened item
up, and will lease, rent or sell outright
to IL settler on easy terms whatever
, ground he may require, or if he lave
=. 10 money, advance him Il sufficient sam
, to make his first payments and begin
improvements. The policy of the gov
4, ernment is to prevent any one owTer
holding over 3 600 acres of land"
The next meeting OF the legion viii
be Saturday night with Mrs. -RubeFt
Sheridan of 707 Tweuty-frst sreet.
T, All interested in this line of study are
invited TO become members-Jf,SS
: UeLe,l Reynolds, Denrer Ne.ca.
:, GENERAL SCHoFIELD SAYS iilat re-
" cent events, referring TO the strike, have
:. demonstrated tiie fact that we must
e have a larger standing army. General
=, Scl,ofield mag be Il c0mpeten, man III
. -.