LAND VALUATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13273, 4 September 1906, Page 3

LAND VALUATION.

Of .lifli- V *• M n a K« ,wra! expression of dissatisfaction amongst farmers with tl*> , recent land valuations m some of the AuckJ, I .' .districts, and not, I think, without sufficient reason. The > local bodies mav also be dissatistied m having to levy rates on irregular and faulty vafues. At a public meeting on August 3, when recent valuations were under discussion, 1 said that the Assessnient Court at Otahubu, where objectors Had to appear, reminded one more of a criminal court than a court. of equity. In making this remark I did not intend, m an? way to reflect on the. magistrate or assesors. ."to tar as the Bench was concerned I hail nothing m any way to complain of. In referring to a criminal court, I had in mv mind the attitude which the local officials of t ie Valuation Department, assumed towards those who disputed the fairness of .their valuations, and what seemed to mo the objectionable spirit and tone adopted, by the valuer m his examination of witnesses before the Court. The course pursued by the valuator at Otahuhu leads one to think that both valuator and objector should be limited to answering questions put by, or through, the h? ,r V but if , allowed to go beyond that the i a tor should ix» debarred from introducing matter which had no other bearing on. the question then before the Court than that of contusing the. witness and misleading the assessors. These conclusions have been arrived at solely on my experience at Otahuhu Assessment Court. The question of land valuation is a very important one, and in making appointments care should be taken to select valuators possessing the necessary knowledge of lands and properties which the* undertake to value. Robert Hall.