UNEARNED INCREMENT
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sin,—Your correspondent, Mr. Bernard Hobson, in your issue of the 13th ult., asserts that my suggestion of taxing "Land Values" would penalize the "Thrifty." It is quite problematical to assume that the very fortunate owners of land in rising districts have acquired same by personal thrift ? Besides, I was careful to disclaim any suspicion of confiscation, by suggesting a graduated tax on enhanced values not due to their individual efforts.
If the principle that increase in site values "created by the community, belongs to the community and not to the landlords" had been embodied in a "Land Valuation Bill" prior to the advent of railways, we should not now be subjected to a taxation that is" crushing industry," and your correspondent would not have to deplore the present outlay on "doles, pensions, etc."
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