CITY VALUER’S RETIREMENT

Evening Star, Issue 19518, 28 March 1927, Page 1

CITY VALUER’S RETIREMENT

«■ APPRECIATIVE REMARKS At the sitting of the Assessment Court thus morning Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., made some appreciative remarks concerning the city valuer, Mr David Duncan, who is shortly retiring after fifty-three years’ service. Mr Bartholomew said that he understood that this was the last occasion upon which Air Duncan would appear before tho Assessment Court, Mr Duncan had served for many years in the capacity of city vainer, and be, as Judge of the Assessment Court, could not allow the occasion to pass without recording his appreciation of the very capable manner in which Mr Duncan had carried out his duties. The work of the court had been light, but this was due to a largo extent to the preliminary work of Mr Duncan and bis assistants. It was usual for many objections to be lodged, but of these only about 10 per cent, came before the court. Most of the objections, too, were to the system rather than to the assessment. It must bo satisfactory to Dir Duncan to- know that he carried into bis retirement the memory of duty well and faithfully done. He wished him a happy retirement, and a long life to enjoy it. Mr A. H. Tonkinson, on behalf of the . legal profession, endorsed His Worship’s remarks. It reflected to the credit of Air Duncan, he said, that so few assessments bad been objected to. The speaker had always found Mr Duncan most willing to meet any rational objection that was put before him. He wished Mr Duncan a happy and quiet retirement. Mr Duncan thanked His Worship and Mr Tonkinson for their kind remarks. The lot of a city valuer was far from being a happy one, but he had endeavored during his term of office to meet the general, public in a fair manner, and to adjust matters also in fairness to th» corporation and to the ratepayers. He took the'opportunity of thanking the members-of the court staff for the kindness and courtesy they had invariably extended to him.