LAND VALUATION.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20551, 20 May 1932, Page 14

LAND VALUATION.

I ALTERATION OF BASIS. SUGGESTIONS BEFORE FARMERS* CONFERENCE. Arguments in favour of land valuation by estimation on a producing capacity basis instead of on a selling basis as is general to-day were heard at the annual conference of tho North Canterbury district branch of the New Zea-, land Farmers' Union hold yesterday, and as tho result of tho discussion it was resolved to advocato'this basis of calculation in a remit to be forwarded *"to the annual Dominion Conference for consideration. The matter was introduced by the following three remits in regard to land valuation:— Banks Peninsula—That tho Government bo asked to adopt a better system of land valuing, estimating values on au earning and, producing capacity basis, and not on a selling value basisrWaimairi—That a protest be made rogarding high foo charged for a revaluation, under Clauso 50 of the Lands Act. Waimairi—That a local valuer be appointod to work in conjunction with the Government valuer in respect to all valuations made in any respective district. ■ ■ i • ' Present System Criticised. Mr P. G. Armstrong, of Banks Poninsula, said that it was felt that tho present system of valuation on situation and selling prico was not a fair method of computation. Earning capacity should be taken into account rather than the land's selling value. Often, ho said, nearness to markets and easy access were used more in making a computation, even when the type of land did not promise high productivity under any ..conditions. Mr T. Morton said that farmers had been unjustly treated as the result of boom times as far as valuations were concerned. The basis for land valuation should bo its production. Further, in' the Assessment Court it was a pity that tho farmers wero not directly represented among the adjudicators. The speaker advocated that a local valuer be appointed to work in conjunction with the Government Valuer in any. particular district. Appointment of Locaii Valuers. Years ago, said Mr J. E. Cullen (Darflold), the matter of appointing local valuers had been promised by 'the Government, but Governments had changed frequently since thon, and such appointments had been postponed. He considered that valuation on a production basis was very fair. Mr Cullen complained of valuation methods generally, stating that it was often the case that the best farmers had to pay for their competence by greatly inoreased valuation. Mr Colin Mcintosh, the president, said that there would be a report on land valuation before the Dominion conference to be held in the first week of July, and he suggested that the remits be forwarded to that conferencefor consideration. Many delegates supported the suggestion that a local valuer be employed to assist tho Government official, and it was pointed out by Mr E. T. McMillan that in many casos farmers felt that in assessing tho capital value of property frequently insufficient allowance was made for improvements. On his suggestion it was decided to add to a composite remit, concerning the complaints made along the lines suggested by the remits, the need for full allowance being made for improvements,' and with that addition it was decided unanimously to forward tho matter for the consideration of the Dominion conference.

Fresh water was supplied to a swimming bath discovered at Kish, Iraq, stated to be the oldest city -ii> the world by ft svstem very similar to that in use to-day. The bath was built 1500 years ago.