The Press. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1900. THE GOVERNMENT VALUATION OF LAND ACT AMENDMENT BILL.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10764, 18 September 1900, Page 4

The Press. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1900. THE GOVERNMENT VALUATION OF LAND ACT AMENDMENT BILL.

The Goveranwnt Valnation of Land Act Amendment Bill, which was introduced into the. Houm of Representatives by Ui« Hon. Mr Ward, has passed through the Legislative Council, and will now go bock to the Lower Houm with the amendments made in it in (>mmittee by the Council. These , amendments haveconsiderably-improved the Bill, and the Lower House, we imagine, will find no difficulty in agreeing to them. Tne Bill defines the capital value of land a* meaning the wan which the owner's eetale or interest therein, if unencumbered by any mortgage or other charge thereon, might be expected to realise at the time of valuation, if offer*d> for sate on such reasonable terms and eopdSiow as. a tona fide seller might be expected to require. The ▼alaatma roUs are, to be prepared by district Taluen wider the supervision of the J Taluat-General. Objections may be made by the Vahier-Oenend or any local authority, or any owner whose name appears tberej <m, and thaw an to be heard in the first instance before an asiwaunt court of three members, namely, the Stipendiary Magis- ***** (who it to be the President) and two other memfaera to be appointed by the Governor-in-Coancfl. If men hating prtcttcai exqpeneoc« in regard to Taloes «n appointed, better result* should be anrired at in this way than under th« fonaar pfea at leading the decision to 4he ialagifltate alone. It » o*wßy to he expected tb& in addition to his ordinary duties he ebouki be able to ■aate himself aoqnajnted with, the business of a valuer as well, but if proper appointmeat* are made tmder the new Act, it aboold practically give him the benefit of the aassManoa o< two skilled assestoni on the Bench. Power is eontaincd in th» Bill to •ppeai from the decirion of Hie Asseesment Court (with tie ieave of tb* President) to the Supreme Coort on point* of law. The west important feature of all in the Bill, ac it now stands, however, i* the restoration of the power to bring tite valuation to the Rupreme test of a compulsory *ale or purchase. This is embodied in some new ckaeea which hare been introduced by tbe Legislative Council. If, on the one hand, the Varaer-Qeoeral i* of opinion that; any land has been fixed by the Assessment Court at leae than its capital vahae, he may increase the assessment to what he believe* | to fa* «lair figure, and if the owner does not ! accept thij, bs can compel him to sell the Und at that price On the other hand if the ovasr is set satisfied vita tie value of ibis!

land as fixed by the Assessment Court, he may notify the Yalucr-Gteoei-l what he considers the fair value, and compel him either to reduce it to that amount or ta such amount as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties, or otherwise purchase it at the price stated in the owner's notice. This is a valuable safeguard both as regards the interests of tue taxing department on the ono hand, and against aerious injustice being done to the owner on tbe other. The bill has now been reduced into a -workable, and, on the whole, equitable shape, and the Legislative Council axe to be congratulated on th© care and attention they have bestowed on its amendment, and tbe material improvements thereby secured.