VALUATION OF LAND.

Matamata Record, Volume XVI, Issue 1444, 24 July 1933, Page 6

VALUATION OF LAND.

SECTION 45 AGAIN. Magistrate’s Strong Comment. That Section 45 of the Valuation of Land Act, 1925, the amendment of which the Morrinsville Borough Council has sought for some years, leads to an unfair position, was the comment made at the Wellington sitting of the Assessment Court by the president, Mr. J. G. L. Hewitt, S.M.

This section of the Act allows a property owner who is dissatisfied I with his Government valuation either to offer his property, within 14 days after the hearing by the Court, to the Valuer-General at' a figure which he considers is the fair capital value, or to require the land to be acquired by the Crown at the same price. The Valuer-General may then either reduce the capital value to the owner’s figure or refer the I matter to the Governor- General-in-Council. “If the Governor-General-in-Council does not approve of the acquisition of the land then the Valuer-General shall reduce the capital value to the amount specified. . . .”

Mx\ Hewitt’s remarks were prompted by a suggestion made by Mr. Fraser Mackenzie (District Valuer) that evidence should be called in a certain case, the owners having already announced their intention of offering the property. “ They have the right to offer, and if they do so, what is the use of calling evidence?” asked Mr. Hewitt. Principle Involved. Mr. Mackenzie: There is a principle involved. It would certainly show the public that this case is not bona fide, and I think the time has arrived when we should take a stand and respectfully ask the Court to hear evidence and, furthermore, to inspect the property. Mr. Hewitt: It is no use wasting time. I quite understand the position. I have made it plain that I think this section leads to an extremely unfair position. However, neither you nor I are responsible for it. We didn’t make the law. It is a right an owner has. Mr. Mackenzie: It would be illuminating to you and the other members of the Court to hear the evidence.

Section a Farce. “ Nothing could illuminate me,” remarked Mr. Hewitt. “ I have had enough illumination throughout New Zealand already. I think this thing is a farce. I may say that in Auckland, with 170 objections in one day, there was not a single case heard, but everybody offered at prices they never intended to sell at. But it is the law.” Mr. Mackenzie: I think that publicity may stop them. Mr. Hewitt: Stop them! The more publicity you give it the more offers you will have. I have never kept this a secret; I have always felt this way about it. It is a right they have in law, and they can exercise it. That it leads to an extremely unfair position with regard to other ratepayers is not your fault or mine.