CITY VALUATIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 58, 10 March 1933, Page 3

CITY VALUATIONS.

MANY OBJECTIONS.

PRACTICES OF THE PAST,

COUNCILLORS CRITICAL.

Property valuations were discussed by (he City Council last night, when the city valuer, Mr. P. F. Notley, reported that the valuations for 1933-34 were £i>G,;J79 less than for the previous year. "As the result of the timee," he eaid, "the objections are the largest on record." The valuations for the last three years were:—lo3l-32, £2,748,267; 1932k', £2,079,400; 19:53-34, £2,022,827. This year's valuation is (subject to rulings of the Assessment Court. » Mr. E. J. Phclan said current values should be shown, even if it meant doubling the rates. The Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, said the valuer was a statutory officer-and a law unto himself. The reason why the fall in values was less than some people thought it should be was that when prices were at the peak, valuations had not been raised accordingly. The valuer had kept reserves up his sleeve. If the Assessment Court, to which propertyholders could appeal, reduced the total valuations by 2 per cent, it would represent a decrease of £109,000 for the. year. That would represent a rate of 2d in the £, or a loss of revenue to the council of £22,000. Not at Peak in Boom Times. Miss E. Melville pointed out that it was competent for the council to object to the valuation as a whole. The system of rating on annual values was designed to meet the annual fluctuations m property values euch as were experienced in times of prosperity and adversity. During recent prosperous times valuations were not raised to the peak, and now, in times of hardship, people were asked for an amount which they cculd not afford. People had reasons for not objecting to valuations, and one was on account of having to employ legal assistance. By not raising values in peak times, it appeared the council had lost thousands of pounds, which the people could easily have paid in the past. The position was different to-day. Mr. D. Donaldson contended that if the valuations had been reduced with the fall in property values the people would have had less cause of complaint. Mr. D. Henry, chairman of the property committee, said the council had never had fewer empty houses. Miss Melville: But at what rents? Mr. Henry said that if landlords would realise the requirements of tha times they would fix rents accordingly, and their houses would be let more regularly, thus obviating congestion in flats. The report was received.