LAND VALUATION.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 1978, 21 November 1921, Page 3

LAND VALUATION.

SYSTEM CRITICISED, “That this branch is of the opinion that the present form of valuation is inequitable, and asks that the Provincial Executive shall go into the matter.”—This remit from the Palmerston North branch to the Manawatu sub-provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union came in for considerable discussion by the latter body on Saturday. It was common talk in his district, remarked Mr Tully (Levin), that the valuations were carried out on the roads and in the towns. With the data the officers of the Valuation Department had before them they could just as easily value as they were doing from their head office. This contention was agreed with by Mr Brook-Taylor (Hangiotu), who said that though his valuation had been increased, no officer had ever been on his property, and the same thing applied to his neighbours. A uniform system of valuation for the whole Dominion to operate over five to ten years, was advocated by Mr J. A. McLeavey (Palmerston North). The valuation should be set at a given period and increased or decreased according to the financial position of the country and the prices being received for primary products. It was not necessary to have an army of valuers travelling round the country. Mr O. P. Lynch contended that the Doomsday Book system introduced by Sir George Grey should be reverted to. He went on to say that if they were going to value on improvements, the valuers should certainly, call on the owner of the property and more than give notice of his coming. The. valuation of his own property had been written down considerably because the valuer considered he had too many buildings on the place. It was decided tQ forward the remit to the Provincial executive for consideration.