REVALUATION DESIRED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 154, 2 June 1931, Page 2

REVALUATION DESIRED

RANGITIKEI STREET PROPERTIES REQUEST bFF>EPUTATION. Conveying a petition bearing the names of thirty Rangitikei Street business firms, a deputation waited on the Palmerston North City Council last evening requesting a revaluation of property adjacent to Rangitikei Street. It was stated by the petitioners that there were obvious anomalies in the values of Rangitikei Street properties as against properties in and adjoining the Square, resulting in Rangitikei Street property owners paying considerably more than their fair snare of the rates. It was requested that the values of Rangitikei Street and the Square and adjoining properties be immediately reviewed to rectify tlxese anomalies. The members of the deputation were Messrs E. R. B. Holben (Messrs Holben and Hubbard), H. Christmas (Hodder and Tolley., Ltd.), G. G. Wilson (Birnie, Coombs and Wilson), A. D. Campbell (Ramsay and Campbell) W. Peters, C. F. Spooner and F. J. Sheppard. Mr Holben pointed out that a revaluation of the city would take some time to carry out, and this was the reason why such an early application had been made to the council. A revaluation could be made if an application w r as made by the council before next April. Citing anomalies in the valuations in parts of the city, the speaker produced figures relating to various businesses in the town, showing how the valuations were against the interests of Rangitikei Street properties. Stating that wdiile he did not wish to find fault with what the valuer had done, Mr Holben pointed out that when the last valuation had been carried out the proposed railway deviation had been an influential factor. People had flocked to Rangitikei Street. The deviation had now been side-tracked and though the time would no doubt come when it would become an accomplished fact, it would be in the distant future. The ratepayers of Rangitikei Street wero paying more than they should by comparison with those who had better sites and equal or better opportunities. He requested a revaluation. The last valuation of the borough was in 1921 and he understood that Rangitikei Street had been revalued in 1925.

The Mayor assured the deputation that the matter would be gone into very fully. If adjustments in valuation had to be made they should be made over the whole city. The matter was referred to the works committee for consideration.