The herald., 1895-04-25
single TAKERS ASSA|LED
Some of Their Claims Said to
Be BaSeleSS
THE NEW ZEALAND PLAN
II Is Alleged Not TO Be Georgian in Any
Particular
The Claims of Post and Haniin Garland
Are Questioned In General
and Detail

weekly meetings. are never tired OF citing
the improved condition of New Zealand.
as an evidence of the success of the single
tax. Their confrercs everywhere chant
in the same strain. 1t is the stock argu-
ment of every single tax writer and
speaker. Hamlin Garland sang its praises
in an Arena article few months ago 1t
is also the trump card OF Louis F. Post in
his lectures throughout the country. And
yet, only by the most brazen effrontery
and unlimited gall, can the reforms re-
Gently instituted in New Zealand, and its
improved economic condition, be claimed
as Il result of the partial adoption or APP
plcation of the single tax.
Let the reader remember that the single
tax theory is that ali public revenue
should be derived from tax on land val
small should pay to the community Its
economic value in rent; that all taxes on
personal property or incomes. or on any
thing in fact, except land is robbery OF
either labor or capital. They would not
restrict the amount of land that might
be held individually. providing its eco
nomic value was paid to the community.
Now, what are the economic reforms that
have been instituted in New Zealand? In
stead of Single" tax New Zealand has
fire. general and variety of local taxes.
All land property under S2500 in value is
exempt from state taxation entirely. Is
a result, in 1892 only II 557 out of a total
of o. sol land owntrs paid any land tax:
That is to say. only one land owner out OF
eight paid any land tax whatever. Would
it not be more logical to claim that the
prosperity of the colony was due to the
TACT that seven-eighths of the land owners
were totally exempt from land taxes. and
that all that was needed TO complete its
prosperity was the exemption OF the other
one-eighth?
There is also an absentee land tax. es-
pecially directed against absentee land
lords This is an anti-single tax, for
single takers are Indifferent i'll whose
hands the Ian remains, providing the
owners pay the tax thereon. There is also
q tax on incomes in excess OF Sl5O0 per
annum. This, from the single tax stand
point. j. robbery of labor or cap tai
and much more than offsets the advant-
age OF taxing one-eighth Of the land own
ers. The taxation of the unearned in
crement of land exclusively, is single
tax measure. The taxation of the I'M
earned increment of land and capital is
directly in the line of s)cialism, and was
advocated by Karl Marx and Fred Engels
in their celebrated III anifesto, issued in
1S4S, thirty years before Progress and Pow
erty appeared. There is also graduated
land tax. This is also anti-single tax.
No wonder the land laws are so popular
in the colony. when -eighths OF the
land owners are exempt from all land
taxes! Yet our consul. Mr.. Connolly, in
his report is careful to say: But |
question the wisdom of such a step Gin
PRODUCING the single taxi, DIS believe
from my knowledge of the country farm.
ers they would resist to the bitter end
if, indeed, they did not rise in open re-
volt-for they look upon the single tax
with horror, and regard its Introduction
as little less than spoliation.' And he
adds: ''Strange to saw. -. have
not met ye; farm IN this ,untry-and
l have taken somH pains 20 ascertain
their views on the subject-who is be-
lever in the single tax. (?)
Among other reforms is an act making
the promoters and directors who issue a
false prospectus for any firm or corpora
holders for any loss sustained. This
measure. Mr.. Connolly informs US, has
effectually stopped the formation of boz
gus and worthless institutions which had
hitherto tlourished at the expense of the
people.
An employers liability act affords the
most complete protection to workmen,
both as to wages and as to responsibility
by employers in regard to injury to work
lions under the factories act. limiting the
hours of workmen and children, entirely
prohibiting work in factories by persons
under Is years of age, and not even at
that age if the person is physically unfit.
There are five annual compulsory holi-
days. and ever Saturday afternoon from 1
o'clock. with full pay.
There is government life insuranc de-
partment. and also government savings
bank, which yields handsome yearly
profit, and which, added to the govern
ment railroads. telephone and telegraph
lines, goes far towards furnishing the
state reVenue.
cooperative principle. When railroad or
public work Of any kind is constructed a
government engineer makes Il survey and
estimates the cost. Upon the basis OF
this estimate the wolk is given in small
sections to groups of men who each re-
ceive an equal portion of the money
earned. This is decidedly socialistic as it
eliminates the capitalist contractor. by
which means the men are enabled to
pocket in increased wages the profits that
were formerly absorbed by the contractor
under the competitive system. a system
of which single takers are such enthusi-
astic advocates and defenders Mr.. Con-
given great satisfaction, and has to great
extent solved the problem of the unem-
ployed in the colony"
There is ALSO government labor bureau
in every town, where free information is
furnished all applicants. both employers
and laborers, and also free transportation
if necessary. The government also en-
courages cooperative farming, furnishing
land to colonies on very favorable terms
Of payment, and also advances loans OF
money for the same purpose. Mr.. Con-
nelly says: Notwithstanding the de-
cdedly paternal, and in many respects So
cialistic, tendency of legislation in New
Zealand, SOME of which is naturally re.
pugnant to those who. like myself, have
not been accustomed to state socialism,
yet the fact remains that it all appears to
| blend tremendously with the sentiments
and requirements of the people. 1t is the
best evidence that can be adduced upon a
| closer acquaintance with its practical
working here in New Zealand, that it is
| not the bogy' it is generally believed
| to be-"
| In view of these various economic re.
| forms, all of social :tc tendency, only
| one of which can by any stretch of the
! Imagination be claimed as in the line Of
| the single tax theory. l ask the candid
reader if it is not the most brazer
| effrontery or inexcusable ignorance. fol
single takers to take credit for the re
| markedly improved condition of New
Zealand as due to the adoption or partia
adoption of the single tax.
BRONCHITIS. Sudden changes OF the weathe
cause Bronchial Trou bles Browns Brou
\, inIT Tn hocp mil lri1 off nf ixa iaf