GRADUATED LAND TAX.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2161, 17 August 1907, Page 4

GRADUATED LAND TAX.

EFFECT OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, August 16. A return shewing a comparison of payments under the present scale of the graduated land tax with the payments under the proposed new scale in respect of land other than business premises was presented to Parliament to-day. Property of the unimproved value of £40,000 which pays £145 under the present scale would pay £2OO under the proposed new rate. On a £50,000 property the payment would be increased from £2OB to £303. On a £IOO,OOO property from £677 to £1250 whilst tho owner of an estate valued at £150,000 would have his taxation exactly doubled, viz., from £1407 t'o £2814. A property valued at £200,000 would have its impost increased from £2396 to £SOOO. A note to the return points out that in all cases where the land includes business premises the amount, of graduated land tax will be reduced by the exclusion of the unimproved value of such premises from the 25 per cent, increase.

Tho Consulting Engineer ior State coalmines reports that in ono ol the trial runs ol tho briquette plant at Westport two of tho machines ninnufacturod seven tons of coal into briquettes in forty minutes. Urn* onquetto machine and the oggebtc machine were then tested, and manufactured seven tons ol coal quottes and oggettos in tgrty-five mintites. The quantity oi pitch used, .which is of excellent quality, wu. about S per cent. Iho capacity ol each briquetto machine is oqiml to 15.36 toils per day, and the eggetto machine 32 tons Jier day ol eight hours. Tho whole of the machinery worked well and smoothly. Mr. W. Cholloy has boon appointed manager of tho works. _