LOWER VALUATIONS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 30 December 1927, Page 4

LOWER VALUATIONS.

BIG PROBLEM FOR COUNTIES. GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE MAY BE NECESSARY. Sweeping revaluations of deteriorated lanu® have been made by- the Government, and to-day many county councils are at a loss to see their way to make end® meet out of the revenue. “I think I can say that the position has reached a very acute stage,” said the Minister of Lands (the Hon. A. D. McLeod) when interviewed at Auckland. “The revenue derived from rates on the new valuations is insufficient to keep the counties going. In some cases valuations have been reduced from 25s and 30s an acre to as little as 5s an acre,' and local bodies are as a consequence faced with the veTy difficult problem of maintaining roads and other public facilities out of a very much smaller annual income. “These revaluations had to be made, and the lower values were thoroughly justified in every case, but a new and very difficult phase of the deteriorated lands problem is now presented. “Without a doubt it is a matter for very close investigation, and it will have to be gone into by the Minister of Public Works, the Minister of Finance, the Prime Minister and myself. It would appear that the counties will have' to be given some assistance if necessary work® andl maintenance are to be carried on. It may be that a. sum of money will have to he taken from the Consolidated Fund, for this purpose. At the moment I can see no other way- out.” The revaluations were proceeding steadily, said Mr. McLeod, and it was hoped to get through, everything early in the New Year.