FRIDAY, JULY 14

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 106, 21 July 1876, Page 7

FRIDAY, JULY 14

Mr Was on introduced a Bill to regulate the leasing and disposal of the waste lands of the Crown in Canterbury after the expiration of the present leases in 1880.

The Premier (upon voting" for the Bill being committed) explained that it had been represented to the Government that the exempton of mining property from taxation was very unfair, and as the Government found that the representations were well grounded, they intended to make an alteration in the clause whereby mining property would be subject to assessment. As to rating pnstoral property, when the leases fall in, first, in respect to the proviso for rating property, it was proposed to introduce a clause in section 22, to the effect that pastoral property be subject to rating on one-half its annual value, according to the terms arrived at in 1871, in the Highways Bill. In the case of Canterbury, the tenure was different to that of Otago. It had been represented to Government that, owing to the element of uncertainty in dealing with Canterbury runs after the leasing falls in, a great deal of anxiety was felt. He wished to inform the House of what the Government proposed to do. It rested with them whether or not it should be adopted. They considered, after a careful examination of the whole question, j udging by previous practice and by the laws which existed from time to time over a long series of years, that if the existing holders are willing to pay such rentals as from time to time may be considered fair, .hat tbey shall have preference to continue in possession of the whole of the property ; and, in Canterbury, such a valuation should be as to their carrying capacities, and such assessment made as the House considered fair ; and, if the runholders be willing to pay such increased assessment, they should have the preference. As to Otago, he considered the case entirely different from Canterbury. In the latter Province the tenure depended upon anyone purchasing the land which he is able to get by law in any quantity. Any person in possession of a leasehold run in Canterbury, might at any moment find himself divested of it, or of any portion of it. In Otago it required rather a tortuous process (which was not always successful), to divest runholders of their land. Their land could not be purchased over their heads, as in Canterbury. In Otago the Waste Lands Board decided, before the leases expired, whether a renewal should be granted, or the land cut up into smaller runs, or leased at all. He would move a clause to this effect in Committee.

Mr Button moved that the following amending clause be inserted in the interpretation clause : " That rateable value of any land shall mean five per cent, on the amount which such land, without any improvements, would sell for in the market, at the time of that valuation being made."

A long discussion ensued upon the amendment, some members arguing for, others against.

Mr Stout moved a further amendment as follows : — " That rateable value of any lands in counties, districts, or road boards, means five per cent, on the value of the fee simple thereof, and three per cent, on the value of the improvements on the said land ; and the rateable value of any land in municipalities means the rent at which such land would, with the improvements thereon, let from year to year, but shall in no case be less than five per cent, on the value of the fee simple of the said land, with improvements."

Mr W. Wood was suggesting an adjournment, and the Premier was opposing, when the hour of adjournment arrived.

At the evening sitting, upon the Rating Bill,

Mr Stout moved the following proviso : — " Provided always that in rating the fee simple, the valuers shall be guided by the actual selling price, and not by any provisions of the Waste Lands Act."

After some discussion, this was carried against, the Government, by 36 to 33.

Mr Whitaker then moved a proviso, which the Premier accepted.

No objection being raised, the clause then passed in the following shape, namely, tbe " rateable value " of any property means the rent at which such property would let from year to year, but shall in no case be less than five per cent on the. value of the fee simple thereof, provided always that in valuing the fee simple,, the valuer shall be guided always by the actual selling price, and hot by the provision of any Waste Lands Act. Provided also that every person holding any Waste Lands of the Crown or other lands of the Crown for pastoral , purposes, shall be rated only on the annual value, having regard, to the tenure under which he holds.

Clauses 3, 4, and 5, passed unaltered. Upon clause 6, which provides for valuers making valuation lists,

Mje Whitaker obtained the insertion of the words " on or before," so as to avoid the date falling on Sundays.

Mr Wood moved the insertion of the word " third/ to provide for a valuation

being taken every third instead of each year. On this a division was taken, the result being that the amendment was lost by 45 against 9. The clause was then passed. Clause 7 (valuers may enter premises) created long discussion, great objection being taken to placing so much power in the hands of the valuers. Eventually, the clause wss carried, with a slight alteration. Clauses 8 and 9 passed unaltered. . On clause 10 (valuation list to be open for inspection during February), A good deal of discussion ensued upon an amendment that notices should be sent by post to every owner of property, stating amounts he owed for rates. The amendment was rejected by the casting vote of the chairman, on tho ground that the money required to carry out the amendment would be better applied to other purposes. Progress was reported at clause 10, at half-past one. A message was received from the Governor covering the Financial Bill. The Piemier, before moving its first reading, referred to two new features in the Bill — namely, in regard to boun* daries and the pensioning of Superintendents. The Bill was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time on Tuesday.