VALUATION OF SECTIONS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11012, 27 January 1926, Page 3

VALUATION OF SECTIONS

WRONG FIGURES SUPPLIED. GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT’S ERROR. The unusual position in connection with the valuation of several sections disclosed at the last meeting of the Council, was again referred to at vhe meeting -last evening. It will be icmembered that Mr. H. George owner of four sections in Dalrymple Street, wrote complaining that his rates had been unduly increased. _Last year he had paid £4 11s lOd, but this year the demand was for £7 13s 7d. On application at the .Borough Coucil Chambers he was referred to the Government Valuation Department. 'lhat Department told him. that there nail been a clerical error. He had cubed on the Town Clerk and had askccHum to reduce the amount, but had Den threatened with a summons. Writing on this subject, the Valuation Department advised that it was not aware of the valuations of £l3O and £IOO respectively- upon wlucg the Council had apparently levied rates for the year 19114. The figures of £250 and £l5O, shown on the roll on March 31, 1925,. were objected to by Mr. George, and. he-applied for and obtained a re-valuation, tlie "figures being £l5O and £loo' respectively Tlic "notice issued to Mr. George distinctly stated that the valuations would take effect from April ]. 1920, succeeding the date ol his application for re-valuation. This was the usual custom in such cases. Had he applied lor re-valuation on. or before March 31, 1923, the amended figures would have taken effect lor .the cturent year’s rating. ' If the Council was agreeable to rate Mr. George for ‘the current year on the revised figures of £l5O arid £IOO respectively the Department offered no objection. The Mayor stated that the Council felt that an undue hardship had been imposed on Air George, and he thought that the overcharge should be refunded to him. . Or. Blair said that to refund the overcharge would be merely to do a ratepayer justice, and he moved, and Cr. DeCosta seconded, that tlie current year’s rates should be based on the corrected valuation, : ; 'ihe To.w-n Clerk stated that the law vas that if a valuation was.made durir gibe - year, .the new values hnd not ••ente into operation until the. following. April, O; course, it .was not. known what action the Audit Dopart- , ment would; take. ; The Audi tor-Gcncr ral- might surcharge the. Owned, butthis would merely amount to a few ipouncls. ... The Council approved the granting , of the refund to Mr George.