ROTORUA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 226, 23 September 1922, Page 11

ROTORUA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

OBJECTION" TO VALUATIONS. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) ROTORUA, Friday. At a 0106110?; of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. .1. f). Davis presiding, a letter was received from tlie Auckland A. and P. Winter Exhibition Association, pointing nut the advantages of Itotorua district belli-; . represented at next show. It was decided jto bring the question before the loca! branches of the farmers' union and settlers' - associations, asking them to collaborate In , the direction suggested. . It was resolved, ou the suggestion of Mr " J. X. McLean, to write to Mr. Hockley. ■ M.1., aud ask him to suggest to the > Government that one of its nominees to the Rotorua Borough Council should be the ' road overseer for the district. The matter - of valuation for acquiring freeholds was i brought forward by the president, who pointed out that tbe valuations were exces- . s!ve. and gave examples of one where a I block of unimproved land purchased under > leasehold a short time ago for tbioOO was , valued by the Government at £10.214. which .made it prohibitive to acquiring tlie freehold. It was stated that if figures quoted were typical of all. then freehold tenure was dead and wiped out as regards Itotorua. and it was pointed out tbat there were two valuations, one being secret, and an Intending purchaser had to slum a bond promising to carry out his contract without knowing the price of the land he , intended to purclia.se. There was no - appeal. Such a valuation and procedure -: were preposterous. On the motion of Mr. . .1. X. McLean it was decided to write to . Mr. Hockly protesting against the absurd values placed on town lands subject to t application for freehold, and requesting , relief by leave to appeal, also for a new , valuation for the purposes of election of " the borough council. a 'I .