WAIOURU LAND CASE

Grey River Argus, 14 December 1943, Page 4

WAIOURU LAND CASE

CLAIMANTS AWARDED £8,833

P.A.* WELLINGTON, Dec. 13. An amount of £8,833 was awarded Forests, Farms and Products Limited by the Court of Compensation on its claim against the Crown for compensation for the taking of the Waiouru run. The award stated that the claim was for the difference found between the value .of the land taken and the amount owing to tne Crown. The amount owing to the Crown was £46,866. The value and interest from the time of taking m the date on which the Court found was £55,700. The balance was £8,833, which would be awarded as compensation. Rates and land tax would be apportioned, and respondents would pay the assessors’ tees (12 guineas each for five days), plus £4OO to claimant for costs, disbursements, and witnesses’ expenses. Counsel for claimants, addressing the Court, said that the best evidence of the productive value and carrying capacity of the run was tnac of experienced farmers in the district who had testified for claimants. The Crown had not called these men but relied largely on the evidence of scientists. The' evidence of soil experts -was not the basis on which a willing purchaser would value a property, nor would he go to Massey College to secure aerial photographs. The Solicitor-General submitted that that except for two small areas the run was valueless. Experience at Karioi had shown that land of altitude was unsuitable for afforestation.