Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1897-07-07
How They Do in New Zealand,

esting account of the workings OF |
Estate socialism" in that country. Mr..
Allsop says:
"The problem of providing for the
unemployed in New Zealand is about
solved, in fact the unemployed are
very, very few. The same may be said
OF the tramp question. Tramps are
becoming very scarce there now,
though six years ago they were as nu-
merous as they are in the United
States. The few remaining are the in
corrigible cases. When they die off
the tramp will be known no more in
New Zealand.
"These are but two of great many
remarkable changes wrought in the
country in a few years. All has been
wrought by the socialistic policy begun.
The country is pretty far advanced in
socialism. The exper ments have been
so entirely satisfactory that when the
government went TO the county with d
much more advanced socialistic policy
last December the policy was Endorsed
by an enormous majority.
"The common people Of New Zea-
land are far in advance of the same
class in this country for the reason
that the eight-hour system has been
vigorously observed, which has pro-
vided time for reading and thought.
"Strkes have been done away with
by the substitution OF boards OF con-
Citation and arbitration. The law
makes it obligatory in all disputes be-
tween employers and employees that
l the subject of dispute shall be sub
mitted to the board OF Cancellation
, This board is composed Of five men,
two chosen by the employees, two
chosen by the employers, while judge
|, OF the supreme court makes the fifth
If either party is dissatisfied with the
decision an appeal may be taken to the
board OF arbitration, which consists OF
three members, one chosen by the
, workingmen, one chosen by the EN-.
ployer and the third again Judge oil
the supreme court. The decision oil
the board of arbitration is final. 1t
must be obeyed. Heavy penalties are
provided for violation and the penal
ties are enforced, too. The defeated
party is an appeal must pay the costs
The two boards are to all intents and
purposes courts of law. They have
power to summon witnesses and to
punish for contempt. The moral effect
of these boards has been most whole
some. Disputes between employers
and employees have been reduced to a
minimum. The weaker party will
yield rather than risk the payments of
costs unless he has good cause. But
the workingmen in particular are de-
lighted with the system.
New Zealand is now very prosper
Gus compared to what it was few
years ago. This prosperity is attrib
uted to the land tax and land policy of
the government. This is not the sim
gle tax, but approaches it in principle.
The land tax is not tax on land, but
a tax on land values. 1t ranges from
a penny to the pound to threepence to
the pound, with an extra penny added
for absentees. The effect of this has
been to reduce alien ownership. Euro
pean landlords soon get tired OF pay
ing the heavy tax. They very soon
become more than willing to sell out
in small parcels and at low figures.
This has precisely the effect intend ed
it gives actual settlers an opportunity
| to obtain homes at reasonable figures.
Large estates are rapidly breaking up !;
in few years they will cease TO exist.
| should say in this connection that
actual settlers are permitted to have
land to the value OF C 500 exempt from
taxation. Besides this we have the
graduated income tax. All incomes
under $500 are exempt; from $500 to
$1,000 the tax is q per cent; all over
el000 pays 5 per cent tax. All corpo-
rations and absentees pay the fnll 5
per cent without exemption. These
two taxes take the place of the old
property tax, which has been abolished.
"The government obtains large
tracts OF land, which it leases to ac-
tnal settlers for 500 years. II the set
tier is deserving, and he cannot lease
the land il he is not, the government
will lend him material to the value OF
EGO to build q house then it will allow
him certain sum per acre for clearing
the land; it will also provide him not
more than three days of eight hours
each per week with work ON roads OF
other public improvements, so that he
may support himself and family until
he can raise crops. The government
is reimbursed for all this by the in