RATING VALUES

Evening Star, Issue 23500, 14 February 1940, Page 4

RATING VALUES

ANOTHER PROTEST MEETING MACAHDREW ROAD DISTRICT Continuing the series of meetings convened by Dunedin ratepayers to protest against the new rating valuations,, residents of the Macandrew road district last night registered their protest, a meeting .being held in the Macandrew Road School gymnasium. Mr R. Marshall presided over a small attendance. The principal speaker was Mr P. G. Connolly, who expressed satisfaction at the formation of ratepayers’ associations in thfe various suburbs. The representations of such associations, whether in the form of deputations or the written word, must ultimately affect the conduct of any council for the betterment of ratepayers as a whole. The city valuer, Mr Connolly said, had tho last -word in assessing values, and if ratepayers were not satisfied they could either approach the valuer or else take the matter to the Assessment Court for settlement. He and his associates were supposed to be experts in valuing, hut the speaker said the system was weak if the science and expertness of the men could l be questioned in an Assessment Court. There were anomalies created in the present assessments. Some ratepayers had their values increased by only £B, while others were as high as £2O; the percent tage increase was between 15 and 50. There must be something wrong about a system in which property values could rise by 60 per cent, in a year. There were many protests being lodged this year, and Mr Connolly stated that best results would be obtained if the various protesting associations obtained the services of a lawyer to contest the matter in the Assessment Court. That would come much cheaper on the individual. The City Council had promised that there would be a reduction in the general rate, but even so, if tho rating value was increased! it was only arithmetic

that the return would be the same as if the general rate remained at its present 2s 4d. Organisations such as the Macaudrew Road District Ratepayers' Association could demand the council to reduce the general rate, so that on the assessment increase the demand; would be at least about the same. That would solve the problem as it existed at the present time. There was no discussion when Mr Connolly concluded his address, which lasted 75 minutes, and Mr J. H. Lennox moved!:— “ That this meeting places on record its protest at the all-round increase in rate valuation, and requests that the council take into consideration the increased assessment when striking the rates for the next financial year.” This was carried on the understanding that the protest be forwarded to the council. - “ This motion is not worth the paper it is written on,” said Mr Marshall. The rating values were up, and that was all there was to it. More than a protest to the council was necessary, and the meeting should get together, engage the services of a solicitor, and register a group protest in the Assessment Court. There was very little time left now, and instant action was necessary. Mr Holdaway moved, and it was carried, that the meeting-as a body engage a solicitor and take_ everyone s case, as a whole, to the Assessment Court. ~ _ „ A vote of thanks to Mr Connolly concluded the meeting.