VALUATION DEPARTMENT. CHARGES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7379, 4 February 1902, Page 2

VALUATION DEPARTMENT. CHARGES.

(PER PREriS ASSOCIATION).

Wanganui, February 3.

At the Waitotara County Council to-day a circular was read from the Sydenham Borough Couccil re the compilation of the valuation rolls, and stating that the conference delegates there had passed resolutions complaining of the cumbersome and insufficient methods adopted by the Government Valuation Department, and the excessive cost to local authorities, and suggesting that the work of compiling and revising district valuation rolls should be. left to the local authorities. The Hon. C. H. Mills, Minister in charge of the Valuation Department, in reply to letters sent conveying these resolutions, said the cost had been reduced, and he denied tho charges of inefficiency and inequality.

' During the discussion at the Council meeting the Chairman quoted numerous cases of inequality in this district, instancing his own property valued at L 23 per acre, and land on the other side of the boundary fences, equally as good, at Lll, Ll2, and Lls. The valuation had previously been done for L4O by the clerk, and no complaints made. The Government charged L 167, and thera were numerous complaints.

The Council unanimously decided to uphold the recommendations of the Sydenham Council, and passed a resolution expressing the opinion that the charges for revising the valuation rolls are excessive, and that valuea were not uniform or equitable.