Taxation of Land Values. By John Orr, M.A. (P. S.
King and. Co. Is. net.)—Any one who wishes to see the kind of argument which influences the enthusiasts for land taxation may usefully spend Is. upon a little book on the Taxation of Land Values, by John Orr. He will at least have the pleasure of analysing some extremely unsound arguments. It is worth while to direct his attention to one piece of bad logic which has already been used by the land taxers for platform purposes. Describing his practical policy, Mr. Orr attempts to answer the argument that rates already absorb the land value by saying that rates and taxes are really part of rent, and that the true rent means the rent paid to the landowner, plus the rates and taxes paid to the local and Imperial Governments. The answer, of course, is that under present con• ditions both rates and taxes are levied not only upon the land but on the buildings and other improvements which the land taxers declare ought to be exempt. If they were exempt it would be found that there was not enough value left to provide even half the revenue required for local plus Imperial purposes.
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