The Courier. (Genoa, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1900-01-19
SOME QUEER LAWS.
The Socialistic Progress of New
Zealand

Zealand
1t is supposed by many people that
the United States and England lead
the world in progressive or advanced
legislation-that is, legislation which
gets away from old fashioned ideas
and the methods of the monarchies of
five hundred years ago. Thisis not the
case, for even the United States is a
shack number" compared with the
provinces of Australia and particularly
with the island of New Zealand, the
people of which have made changes in
recent years that will astonish conserv-
atism everywhere. All these changes
may not be wise measures at the pres
ent time and some of them are still ex-
periments, but they seem TO be work
ing out all right and they at least indi-
cate that the people of New Zealand
are alive and thinking. The following
notes from its recent history will show
the progress that is being made:
New Zealand is not paradise, but it
is far ahead of every other nation. She
has become famous during the past six
years because of her radical labor leg
islation. Situated 1900 miles south
eIst of Australia, surrounded by water,
it has a climate somewhat resembling
that OF California.
New Zealand is as yet sparsely set
tied country; having 1o4,032 square
miles of territory, equal in size to New
York and Pennsylvania and with a
population of only 5000 The popu-
lation is somewhat cosmopolitan.
LAND OWNERSHIP.
Time was when few great land
lords owned the greater part of New
Zealand. A land tax, graduated from
two to six cents on the pound, with an
extra two cents for absentee landlords,
proved to be so heavy that most of the
great estates were offered for sale. The
government had also enacted gradu-
ated income tax. These two measures
resulted in driving the great money
lords from the nation. There is not to-
day one millionaire and only one man
worth half million in New Zealand.
The land is held for actual settlers
who are permitted to hold land to the
value of 1900 exempt from taxation.
Besides the government loans to the
settler 500 in cash, allows him a GER
thin sum per acre for clearing land; it
will also provide him with three days
work per week of hours per day, in
building roads or other public improve
ments. This enables the settler to
support himself and family until he
can raise crops. The government is
reimbursed for all this in the increased
value due to an increase of population,
resulting in the larger use of the gov
ernment railroads, telegraphs, tele-
phones, postal system, etc.
THE LAND TAX
Is tax on land value and also a
graduated tax. The first law passed in
relation to land was in 1870. 1t pro-
vided that not more than 800 acres
could be sold by a land officer to any
individual. But this did not prevent
one individual from buying from an
other. Next came the land tax, quick
ly followed by the graduated income
tax. Now if mans land is worth less
than $4,000 a certain rate is paid; if
worth more than 5000, and less than
$40, 600, higher rate is paid and so on.
The result was that such men as ''ready-
money" Robinson, who had acquired a
hundred thousand acres, had to sell
ninety-nine thousand.
LABOR LAWS.
In 1894 an act was passed with amend
ments in '95 and '9S which is known as
The Industrial Cancellation and Arbi-
tration Act. Since this law has been
in effect, with its amendments, there
has not been strike in New Zealand.
The law encourages the formation of