CITY VALUES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 205, 29 August 1940, Page 16

CITY VALUES.

UPPER QUEEN STREET

OBJECTIONS HEARD.

Tlic .-itfing of the Assessment Court, to hear objections in connection with Government valuation* in the City of Auckland, was concluded thi* morning. The court was presided over by Mr. A. McLachlan, assisted by Mr. L. J. Brake, Government assessor, and Mr. F. A. Jarrett, ratepayers' assessor. During tlie sitting, chief interest centred on the hearing of objections to the valuations made on properties in Queen Street, between the Town Hall and Karangaliiipe Kond.

Mr. I. J. .Goldstine and Dr. R. (I. MeElroy appeared for the objector*, and Mr. C. W. Chilcott for tlie Valuation Department.

Evidence for the objectors was given by two valuers, who expressed the opinion that values in the area ranged from £M 0 to £50 a foot, whereas the Government valuations had ranged from £40 to £75 a foot. It wae claimed that rental values of the shops in the area should not be as high, us were the ground level.

The court derided to inspect the area before announcing a decision.

A total of 7504 ViiliiM'.ioii-i had ltwn made in the city, mid com para tiv«»ly few objection* were curried n« far as the court. The work took n r*t:ifT of six men over two yenr< to i-oiii|il(>tl', the lust Auckland city Government valuation being iriiide ill 1!)'22. Durinnr the sittinjr of the court just completed, several objections were made on the ground that the valuation was too low, it being he'd by objector*, tliat in eueli an instance, property might l>e affected under the Fair Rents Act, or for sale purposes. The attitude of the court, however, this not to increase valuations, if it wa« considered that the valuation fixed was a fair one.

The court will sit at Workworth tomorrow, at Whangarei next Monday, and at Dargaville next Tuesday and Wednesday.