STRONG PUBLIC PROTEST

Evening Star, Issue 23498, 12 February 1940, Page 3

STRONG PUBLIC PROTEST

INCREASE ON RATEABLE VALUES COMPETENCY OF VALUES QUESTIONED “EVERY RATEPAYER SHOULD OBJECT” Further evidence of the public feeling towards tho new rate valuations was given at the public meeting on Saturday night at the R.S.A. rooms. The features of the meeting were the quality of the speeches delivered by members of the audience and tho fact that these speeches covered every shade of thought on the question, except any that might be in accordance with the change. The outcome was a motion of protest to the City Corporation on the rateable valuations for 1940. Mr H. H. S. White, who convened the meeting, presided. He was a member of the City Council from 1907-16. By the .Rating Act, said Mr White, the valuation was fixed at 5 per cent, of the capital value or the rental value, whichever was the higher. There should be, however, some allowance made to ratepayers for depreciation, but instead rateable values had risen. If this rise continued much longer excessive valuation would place the city in a false position. Increases in building material and labour costs had taken effect last year, and why had not values risen then? “ I contend,” ho continued, “ that it is absolutely wrong that properties should be put up from 20-30 per cent, in any one year.” He instanced the case of a house in Carroll street, put up by one of the best contractors in Dunedin for £1,400. It had been offered for auction, however, for £l,lOO. That was the true test of value. Its rateable value was £7O, but the true figure would be that based on the offer, or £55. . There was a provision that all objections should be lodged at the Magistrate’s Court before February 14. But the valuers had made their assessment. If they knew their business that assessment should stand. When a house was built anyone could do the valuer’s job, but when a few years had passed it was work for an expert. He suggested that tho city valuers were not competent to do the job. The council should go into the matter of the rates and let people know straight away how much they would have to pay. His purpose in calling the meeting was that every ratepayer who was dissatisfied should object to his assessment. SMOKE SCREEN FOR THE COUNCIL. A speaker from the audience suggested that the chairman, in throwing the blame on to the valuers, was trying to throw a smoke screen round the actions of the council. Had this body no jurisdiction over tho decisions of its employees? If rates were soaring under the present system of rating and there was no redress, then it was time that another system was looked to. Quite apart from any political aspect, it was apparent to-day that money had been most unwisely spent by the present council!, He instanced the recent purchase of eight buses. BETTER SALARIES FOR VALUERS. That competent - valuation officers should be appointed and paid good salaries was the contention of the same man in a later speech. The salaries in the valuation department were less than in some of the others, but it was a most important department of the city’s activities. “ I say we are leaving the door open for corruption,” he contended. “I do not say that there has been or will be corruption, but we are leaving the door open,” An in-' stance had just been given of a shop in the main street of which the rateable 1 value had been reduced by a substantial amount. “ When we hear of such instances wo are inclined to think of -backhanders. It is a common failing for anyone if ho hears of a councillor doing something of which he does not approve to say; ‘ I wonder how greasy his palm is now?’ No matter how far out the thought is public officers such as valuation officers should l be in such a position that the thought is not allowed to creep in.” The protest meetings being hdd were meritorious, and those calling them deserving of the thanks of the ratepayers as a whole, but small meetings were not entirely satisfactory. He made a plea for all to attend the large mass meeting to be held this week. SUPPLY AND DEMAND. On behalf of the Mornington Ratepayers an I Householders’ Association, Mr A. Caysor said that the question of blame seemed beside the point. On the results of tho valuation he questioned the qualifications of the valuers. Whose homes did they go into ? , It was safe to say that they valued most houses from the outside, and, speaking from tho professional point of . view, he claimed that this was impossible. Because of the law of supply and. demand a buyer to-day paid more than its value for liis house, and while he lived in such a house he paid additionally for it in rates for the rest of his life. Valuation was made on the capital or rental value, whichever was the higher. A house valued at £1,200 colild not be got for less than £2 to £2 5s a week. This was a false rental value, caused by the law of supply and demand. The ratepayer did not know for 12 months on end what rates he would pay. Why could not tho annual rates be revised only every five years ? As to the steps that could be taken, he suggested that two or three solicitors should be appointed to act on behalf of all the ratepayers.. “ The valuation department,” he said, “ will not attend the Assessment Court to fight thousands of cases.”

He instanced the corporation-built houses in the Clydehil! settlement. The householder needed the consent of the corporation to the sale, and it was definitely stated that consent would not be given to a price that was more than the cost, less depreciation, plus the value of improvement, if any. ,In other words, every householder on Clydehill had a fixed capital value. Why had they not also a fixed rateable value? Every corporation house in Dunedin had these two values, and the speaker maintained that this was definitely wrong. Many other speakers touched briefly on such subjects as debt-free money and other angles of the problem, more or less illuminating. A lady, both claiming and displaying that aversion to technicalities which is characteristic of tho sex, put forward a strong plea for a demand for reduction of rent, without any lessening of the quality or quantity of the social services performed by the corporation. A collection taken up to defray the expenses of tho meeting produced a surplus of £1 10s, which was forwarded to the provincial patriotic fund.