The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-01-22
THE ANTIPODES.
They Arc Leading the World.
NEW ZEALAND AND SOCIAL RE-
FORM

ClaI reforms the most progressive cOm-
munity in the world, it's nearest rival
being Switzerland.
Nearly all the public works of New
Zealand are in the hands of the govern
ment Of the colony, and in the early days
they simply kept pace with the spread OF
settlement. In 1870, however, great
impetus was given to the progress of the
whole country by the inauguration of the
Public Works and immigration Policy"
which provided for carrying out works
in advance of settlement. Railroads, roads.
and water-raceS were constructed and
immigrat ton was conducted on a large
scale.
In 1893 complete suffrage was given to
women, though they are not qualified to
be members of the legislature
The assessment act of 1891 provides
Tor an ordinary land tax on the actual
value OF the land, and an owner is al
lowed to deduct any amount owing by
him secured on registered mortgage
Under the original act the deduction for
improvements might not exceed f3 900;
Dut by amendment act of 1893, the value
OF all improvements whatsoever is eX
empt from liability to land tax Besides
when the balance, after making deduc-
tons as above stated, does not exceed
1900; and above that a smaller eXemp-
ton is granted, but ceases when the bal
ance amounts to $500. Mortgages are
subject to the land tax. The revenue
from the land tax rs, in round numbers
t2S5,00O per annum. The rate of ordin-
airy land tax for 1894 was Id. in the
pound.
In addition to the ordinary land tax
there is graduated land tax, which COM
menceS when the unimproved value is
$4,000. For the graduated land tax, the
present value of all improvements is de-
Quoted; but large mortgages are not de-
ducted. The act for 1893, while reducing
the ordinary taxation on land by ex-
empting all improvements, increased the
graduated tax, and the revised rates are
now one-eighth of a penny in the pound
sterl1nS when the value increases by fur
ther steps of an eighth Of a penny with
the value OF the property, until the max
lmum OF I'd. in the pound is reached.
payable when the value is $21O 900. or
exceeds that sum.
rms graduated tax yield, in round
NUMBERS, tS5.000 per annum which is
included In the sum of f2S5,OOO given
above.
above f300, and from taxable incomes a
deduction of f300 is made The rate of
income tax for 1894 was Cd. in the
pound on the first taxable fl 600, and Id.
In the pound on taxable incomes over
G10OO.
Concerning the land system of New
Zealand. S. Percy Smith, F. R. G. S., Sec
'etary for crown lands and surveyor GEN
eral, says
The crown lands of New Zealand are
administered under The Land Act 1892
and the regulations made hereunder.
The distinguishing feature of the pres
ent land system are the outcome of ideas
which have been gradually coming to
maturity for some years past in this col
ony. These features involve the princi
pie OF state ownership of the soil, with
perpetual tenancy in the occupier.
This, whatever may be the difference in
detail, is the prevailing characteristic in
the several systems under which land
may now be selected. In New Zealand
this tendency to state ownership has
taken more pronounced form than in
any other of the Australian colonies. and
the duration of the leases has become so
extended as to warrant the name, fire.
quently given to the system, of ever
lasting leases In point of fact, most of
leases which have a currency of 999e
years. They are leased at a fixed rental
based on the assessed value of the land
Ut the time of disposal, without recurring
valuations.
Again, underlying the whole of the
New zealand land system is a further
Application of the principle of the land
for the people, that of the restriction as
TO area which any man may hold.
In order to find work for the unem-
ployed, considerable areas of forest-clad
crown lands have been set aside. and
small contracts for the clearing, burning.
and sowing these with grass have been
let. The ultimate intention is to subdi-
vide these areas into small farms, to be
let on lease in perpetuity' on a rental
sufficient to cover the cost of clearing.
etc, together with a fair rental of the
land. Only one such settlement under
ms system has at present been alocated
to settlers, and, so far is successful"
Concerning the New Zealand system of
constructing public works, H. j. II. Blow.
under secretary for public works, says:
The great bulk of our railway and
road works, and much of our building
work in New Zealand. is now carried out
under what is known as the cooperative
system. an arrangement which has only
otCh uiouSlI IllO operation within the
last three years or So
The contract system had MANY disad-
vantages. 1t gave rise to a class of mid
dlemen, in the shape of contractors. who
often made large profits out of their un-
dertakings and at times behaved with
less liberality to their workmen than
might have been expected under the cir
cumstances.
The cooperative system was designed
TO overcome these evils, and to enable
the work to be let direct to the workmen.
10 that they should be able, not only to
earn fair days wage for a fair days
work, but also to secure for themselves
The profits which contractor would
otherwise have made on the undertake
ing.
1T also places the workman on a much
higher plane. and enables him to compre-
bend more fully the dignity of labor. I'm
der the cooperative system every work
man is contractor, and has a personal
interest in the economical and successful
carrying out of the work He is also his
own master.
mot only does the system offer these
solid and, very real advantages to the
workmen, but it also offers substantial
advantages to the state. Under this sys-
tenn works are carried out for their act
ual value--no more and no less.