The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-09
CLOVER HILL CLUB
|S-FOR TAXATION
Something New Under the Sun
Develops Over in Chester
field County. =
SINGLE TAX is DISCUSSED
Farmers Club That Looks After
Things in General Tackles
Big Subject.

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY. VA, Au-
gust S.-That taxation can be made n
blessing rather than n curse was shown
at a meeting OF the Glover Hill Farm
crs' Club last week. when discussion
wheeled around to the burden of taxa
iipn as being carried by tho farmers
and Industrial workers.
II was shown that wherever taxes
had heen.taken off industry-in whole
or III part-therc had been no attempt
10 80 back to former methods-the an
cicnt methods still in force in Virginia
and some other States And the an
cicrt method of the taxation of Indus
try wherever found. Incidentally 1t
wa. pointed out that industry would
die if it could be hidden. while other
forms Of wealth production. such as is
contained in storage vaults flourishes
best with publicity. In South Australia
all state taxes are levied exclusively
upon the land. municipal taxes only arc
levied OH properly. The state tax Is
equal to cent on every So worth of
land. unless the piece of land happens
to he assessed at about s2.500,000 or
more. when ii is taxed 2 cents on
every $500 assessed value. II the own
err does not live on the land. his FAX
is increased 20 per cent. South Aus
tralia is making effort to change
this system: ii is a blessing to in
dustry.
In New South Wales a similar sys-
tenn is In force. and it lis now proposes
to apply tho same principle to NUM-
cipal taxation. The tax is levied on
the unimprovcd Nalue of the land at
the rate Of . cents on the assessed
value of 5000. The burden OF taxa
ton falls on those who most need gov
eminent protection. while industry and
agriculture neither needs nor asks
for any privilege. except that OF being
let alone to mind its own business.
Taxation here is blessing to the
many, while it tends to break up the
extensive land holdings
In New Zealand. the land tax has
been IN vogue since 1891. and at that
time improvements up to the value
of 5000 pounds were exempt from tax
alton In 1898 all Industrial improve
'nents were exempted from taxation.
and in 1896 similar system was
adopted for local rating. There is no
country in the world where there is
more even prosperity for all the pco-
pie. and there is not the slightest in
clination on the part of the voters to
go back to the taxation of their every
individual effort for betterment.
The countries which have adopted
the land tax are satisfied that 1t raises
revenue in fair and equitable man
ner. In no case where a land tax has
been adopted has il afterwards been
abandoned. In New Zealand it is op-
tional with the ratepayers to adopt or
to cancel the plan of rating unimproved
land. The ratepayers have adopted it,
but in no case have they used their
powers TO cancel. In practice 1t Is
found that by wise taxation land is put
to It's most productive use. The COM
A., missioner of taxes for South Australia
reports that the land tax has worked
wonders for the great mass of tho
people; large holdings have been di-
al FL iNa
and the absentee owncr-of which, to
use an lrishism, there are SO many in
Nirginia-has been well-nigh driven
out OF the country. Suburban lots have
been subdivided, and the people are
building houses for themselves instead
of living in rented rooms at the mercy
OF landlords and agents. Here taxa
tion is a blessing and industry is free
to work out its own salvation without
let or hindrance from the taxing DOW
CrS.
The New South Wales statistician re-
ports that the land tax has forced Idle
land Into the market. and put It to pro-
ductive uses. There are fewer oilers
and more workers. The producing ac-
tivities Of the country have been i'm
mensely benefited. And New Zealand
commissioners says that the exemption
OF improvements from taxation has had
| the effect of increasing the volume and
/ the outlay for more and greater i'm
| provcmcnts. Thus labor has been In
greater demand and none are idle who
wish to be useful members of society
II il especially worthy OF note that
! this system of taxation does not obtain
money at the expense OF public WEI
/ fare. or 10 the dctrimcnt of the people
The tax money is obtaiend I'm a manner
as does not hamper public enterprise.
but which really encourages It, And
| increased revenue accompanies and in
credscs public prosperity.
! The land tax takes nothing from tho
value of the land which the community
has not given to Ii. And it leaves In
dustry free.
incidentally. IL may be mentioned
that IL the system OF taxing only land
were To be adopted in Richmond (as il
! is gradually being adopted In Houston,
/ TcNas), the city would immediately de-
vciop an unprecedented growth. and
/ city lots that are now eycsores through
neglect and lands that arc held at five
| or ten times their real value, would
! become avJ.ilbio for business entnr-
prise or for houses for tho people. Thus
taxation may become Il blessing to tho
great mass OF the people.
| Th.S certainly WAS Il great meeting
~ The Clover lin Farmers CiIn.
S. T.