THE VALUATION ROLLS QUESTION.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11111, 1 November 1901, Page 7

THE VALUATION ROLLS QUESTION.

CONFERENCE OF LOCAL BODIES.

A second Conference of delegates of Local Bodies to consider the question of compiling and revising the valuation rolls was held on Wednesday evening at the Sydenham Borough Council Chamber. The following delegates were present:—Borough \ CouncilsHSt. Albans, A. F. Carey; Wool--ston, -W- _'.- Thomas:, Sydenham,- J.- Hadfield; Lyttelton, T. C. Field; Timaru, J. ■ Clark. Road Boards—Oonrtenay, G. Bed- , lord; West Eyreton, R. Wright; Spreyc*oii, W. Hartshorn • Springs, J. Wolfe. • 'In& Mayor of Woolston was appointed chairman of the meeting. Correspondence was read from several other local bodies on the question under consideration. In the course of a long discussion it was contended that although the local bodies .were now only supposed to pay one-third of the cost of the rolls the cost to them was much greater than -when they did the whole work themselves, and some erratic instances of valuation made by the Valua- ; tion Department Avere quoted. The following resolutions Avero passed: —- ■"[ll That this Conference regrets that the Hon. Mr Mills has not replied to its letter of 17th July last, and acknowledged by him on July 20th, and the Conference representtng the Sehvyn County Council, the Borough Councils of St. -Albans, Woolston, Sydenham, Lyttelton, Timaru, Lin•wood, Ashburton, Kaiapoi, the Road Boards of Cdurteftay, West Eyreton, Spreydon, Atron, Springs, Lake Coleridge, East*Mal- - •rern, Mount Peel, and Temuka, and Rakaift again presses the question for. an alteration of the system of compiling tho ' valuation rolls as set out in its resolutions oi July 16th lost, and seeing the great dis- . satisfaction on the question throughout the - colony (vide "Hnnsard" of July 31st last) •gain urges the importance of the matter on the immediate attention ot the Government j and, fitrther, if it is too late to alt«- the system this session, the Conference strongly- protests against the excessive charge* made, and calls upon tbe Department to bring the cost of the valuations down *o the limit of cost to the Local Bodies under the old system." i * Vv^^ fc * c * K 'Ul-r be sent to the other locsl bodies in tbe colony, inviting their co-opewtion to get the cost of the valuations reduced as desired by this Conference.'' i Vot»s of .thanks to tbe -vdenham Borough ! Council for convening the Conference, and to the Mayor of Woolston for presiding, 5«- PWsed. The Conference then adjourned, it being left to the Svdenhnm Council to call the Conference together again when it is considered necessary.