146 LOCAL TAXATION 



income is economically unsound, and likely to create a feeling of 

 insecurity among all classes of the community. 



That the cumulative effect of the burdens sought to be thrown 

 upon land by the Bill is calculated, by impoverishing agricultural 

 landowners (especially those who adequately maintain their 

 estates) to seriously affect the welfare of those occupying, and 

 employed upon, agricultural land. 



That land that is not to be subject to taxation should not be 

 subject to valuation. 



The principle of imposing taxes upon land over and above 

 those which are imposed on other forms of property should be 

 uncompromisingly resisted, notwithstanding any offers made by 

 the Chancellor of the Exchequer to make grants out of the same 

 in aid of local taxation. 



The land clauses of the Finance Bill are unjust in 

 principle, and should be withdrawn. While the Bill proposes to 

 tax the substance on its capital value, in our opinion, the true 

 principle of just taxation is to tax each inhabitant according to 

 his ability to pay. 



INCREMENT VALUE DUTY. 



Such a charge is indefensible. Agricultural land as a whole 

 has, during the last forty years, decreased in value, and to levy 

 a tax on any return to its former value would be grossly unjust 

 to owners of land. 



The principle of taxing the increment value of agricultural 

 land would put a premium on the non-improvement of such land, 

 and discourage enterprise on the part of both owner and occupier. 



UNDEVELOPED LAND TAX. 



The site value of agricultural land should be placed at 100 

 per acre instead of 50. Your Committee consider that the impo- 

 sition of this tax will, directly or indirectly, cause great hardship 

 to occupiers of land in the vicinity of towns and villages, and 

 .especially to market gardeners and allotment holders. 



STAMP DUTIES. 



In view of the already heavy existing charges on the passing 

 of real estate, your Committee object most strongly to the pro- 

 posed doubling of the Stamp Duties on deeds of conveyance. 



SCHEDULE A.* 

 MOTOR TAXES AND UPKEEP OF ROADS. 



By Clauses 64-70 duties are charged on motor spirits and 

 increased duties on licences for motor cars. The amount of these 



* The reference to Schedule A will be found under " Income Tax," 

 on page 301. 



