PAPARUA COUNTY REVALUATION

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27377, 16 June 1954, Page 9

PAPARUA COUNTY REVALUATION

EFFECT ON RATING CRITICISED

(New Zealand Press Association) ROTORUA, June 15.

Because the Paparua county had been revalued and other adjoining local bodies had not, Paparua would pay £20,00(1 above its just and proper share of rates to the Christchurch Transport Board, the North Canterbury Catchment Board, and other local bodies, said the county clerk (Mr A. Kelly) at the conference of the Institute of County Clerks. Mr Kelly suggested that until all local bodies in an area were revalued, the Valuer-General should each year assess for the revalued bodies a special valuation on a common basis with the remainder for the rating purposes of ad hoc authorities. The system, he said, would appear to have no difficulties for the Valuation Department, and would be simple, efficient, and equitable.

It seemed, also, that land tax should be levied on old values until the revaluation of all local bodies was completed. So great was the increase in rates and land tax that land which should be farmed for “a good many years” was being forced on to the market as residential sections. '

Counties should have power to reassess values on productive worth where farmlands should be retained as such.

The institute resolved to refer Mr Kelly’s paper to its valuation and rating committee.