CITY VALUATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12909, 4 July 1905, Page 6

CITY VALUATIONS.

; PROPOSALS BY THE GOVERNMENT. l«i SfEESCBAPH.-O.WJI COBBESPOJfDENT.] . Oebistohubch, Monday. At the request of the Mayor, the town olerk baa drawn up a memo, dealing with the proposal set forth, in the Speeoh from the Throne at the opening of Parliament to the effect that valuations made by the Valuation Department should in future apply only to State Departments, the local authorities being left to make their own valuations. The State have the right in cases of; disputed valuations to acquire their properties on paying therefor 10 per cent, over the owner's valuation. The town clerk says that among .the advantages of tho proposed alteration would be more accurate rolls, as complications now frequently occur owing to changes of address, etc., not being noted thereon. The local authority would alsodoubtless have -power to alter valuations when properties are subdivided, apower which it does not now possess, and as the Valuation Department will only alter the valuations on the rolls in respect of sales, etc, that have taken place prior to the previous April 1, the local authorities arc now sometimes placed in the anomalous position of receiving notice that a person as _ sold part of his property and thereby relieved himself from the liability to pay rates thereon, and being unable to obtain from the Department the valuation upon which to rate the 'oiwners of tho subdivided property.' Among the disadvantages would bo the increased cost, as the city council.would have to appoint a valuer and send out notices of valuation, and it would probably cost more than the present system. .Great improvement in valuation, matters would bo effected if the Department appointed an officer! as city valuer, whose duty it would be to devote the, whole of his time to making new valuations and revising rolls within the city of Christchurch. and he would; find his time fully occupied in giving to his duties the care-' ful attention they would require. If this were done, and the Council paid half his salary in lieu of the payment now made for valuations and revision of rolls, matters i in connection with valuation would be improved. _____ '