LAND MINISTER'S TOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18941, 12 February 1925, Page 10

LAND MINISTER'S TOUR.

VISIT TO KING COUNTRY. SETTLERS AND VALUATIONS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] TAT7MARUNUI. Wednesday. The Minister for Lands, Hon, A. D. McLeod, created a favourable impression during his visit to Ohura, Matiere, and Taumarunui yesterday. At Ohura the Minister heard deputations from settlers on matters concerning finance, roading, Ohura town sections, county and soldier rate:), land settlement and Ohura Maternity Home.

The question of land valuation was put before the Minister, who replied that from his point of view there could only bo one valuation, and that was a land valuation which would be suitable for both land and income taxes. There was only one possible Government valuation and that valuation would have to be standardised throughout the country. He hoped to be able to straighten up the valuations during the coming session with new legislation. Of course, he was looking forward to very important and valuaole information from the report of the Lands Deterioration Commission. That report would be published and not pigeonholed. Regarding the Valuation Act, the Minister stated that the position of land values was supposed to be considered every seven years, but enormous demands bad been made for settlers' advances and the, result was that the whole of the department's time was taken up with the valuation of settlers' lands for advances instead of the usual term revaluations. Tile Minister further stated that it was no good employing outside men on the valuation of counties. Permanent men employed by the department would do the work avid they would have a certain standard to work to. Ho knew that the whole position wanted overhauling, both from the taxation and lending viewpoint. Referring to soldiers' lands, Mr. McLeod said that the soldiers of New Zealand as a whole had their lands revalued at a time when no other lands were re-valued. The result was that the soldier settlements were right down below the civilian valuation. After another year the soldier would have to meet his obligations in the same way as the civilian.

Mr. McLeod received an official welcome from the Taumarunui Borough Council last night. In the course of his reply he said that, his primary object in making the present tour was to anticipate the report on deteriorated lands. He wanted to See these lands before he saw the report.