POLITICAL

Hokitika Guardian, 11 March 1933, Page 6

POLITICAL

RESERVES DISPOSAL BILL.

POSITION OF CROWN'TENANTS,

WELLINGTON, March 9.

Moving the second reading of. the Reserves and other Lands Disposal Bill, the Hon. E. A. Ransom (Minister for Lands) explained the provisions suspending the right of Crown tenants to apply for a revaluation; of their properties. The Minister said that between the third and sixth years of Ins lease a- lessee had am absolute right to apply for a revaluation, and the determination of the district' committees (consisting of the Commissioner of Crown Lands, the District Valuer, and one person appointed by the Minister) was final. Bet wen the first, and third years after the sixth year, a revaluation could only take place if authorised by the Central Revaluation Board. The Minister said that revaluation was not a , permanent cure for tlie : present troubles of Crown tenants, as many could' not carry on even if a revaluation wero allowed. The Government had power to assist tenants over their difficulties by. remissions and by other means. The arrears on ordinary leaseholds as at December 31, 11:32, totalled £788,384, and those on | account of the discharged soldiers’ settlement account £’473,533, a total of £1,261,817. Postponements totalled £310,893 (£207,894 , 0 n ordinary leaseholds and £132,899 in respect of the discharged soldiers’ settlement account). This made the total arrears and postponcinents £1,602,810. The Minister said the concessions granted since. April 1, 1932, were as follows : Remissions £340,236, . postponements £*65,099. . ' Continuing, Mr Ransom said there was a tendency on the part of valuers to value on the present day value of produce, thus unduly reducing capital. There were leases with a capital value ■ of £804,703 just coming into the three to six-year period, and if they were re_ valued to-day it would involve a large writing down of capital. When sections were revalued the price was put down for all time. The proposal in the bill was to suspend for - o ne year the right of Crown tenants- to apply for a revaluation in the hope that more normal times would soon be reached. It was not his desire to sustain high values, but it had to-be remembered that

the heavy losses-, resulting-from, revaluations made during the slump times had to be- borne by the general taxpayer. It might ultimately be found necessary to a dopt a- lower standard of land values right throughout the Dom- j inion, but piecemeal reA r aluations under present conditions were neither fri'.r ,-noA desirable. Revaluations! wotfld not place-the tenants in any ; better position to meet payments of j rent. The bill Avas read a second time.