Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1938. THE REVALUATION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 84, 19 January 1938, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1938. THE REVALUATION.

It is natural that ratepayers whose valuations have been increased under the recent revaluation of the Borough should dislike the idea and, in the case of the larger additions, give voice to their objections. But perusal of the figures presented to the Borough Council by the valuer on Monday evening show that the community as a whole will benefit as a result of the change. The last valuation was made in 1936, the previous one having been about thirty years ago. In the long period that elapsed between these two, many discrepancies crept in, the revision not providing the. required rectification. For instance, in some cases the annual value was fixed at three per cent of the capital value and in others at five per cent. The present valuation has been designed with a view to removing anomalies such as these. It is only to be expected that some property owners will have a case for adjustment under the new regime, but in these cases the remedy lies in appeal to the Assessment Court. In other cases where the valuation has been raised, it may be, the owners, instead of having grounds for objection, have reason to recognise that in the past they have been called upon to pay less than their fair share toward the municipal expenses. Mr Major in his report gave figures showing the general effect of the new valuations. Based on a demand for the same amount of revenue this year as last year —the only true basis of comparison—the rate in the original Borough area, Netherby No. 1 district and Hampstead No. 2 will be, reduced by one shilling in the pound, in Netherby No. 2 by tenpence and in Hampstead No. 1 by no less than Is 7d. It may be that in some instances the actual amount of the levy will be less than has been paid previously. But the main consideration is that the incidence of rating will be placed on an equitable basis.