MOUNT ALBERT VALUATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20481, 5 February 1930, Page 14

MOUNT ALBERT VALUATIONS.

Sir, —The thanks of ratepayers of Mount Albert are due to you for setting out the position in your article in Monday's issue. There is very little doubt that an effort is being made to steal a march on sufferers through this iniquitous imposition as the. Valuer-General lias treated them with scant courtesy in failing to notify each ratepayer by personal notice and in fixing the 10th instant as the latest day for objections being lodged, a matter of a few days. Take the.case of ratepayers absent from Auckland receiving no notice direct as is usually given by tho local authority and failing to see your article until too late. What earthly chance have they to get relief ? The Valuer-General needs waking up or replacing as a protest against his "star chamber" methods over this matter. A meeting of those interested should bo called immediately and efforts made to join up with the city, otherwise Mount Albert will find itself in the same position as other boroughs where rating on unimproved value has brought stagnation and distrust. In a young country in process of development rating on either capital or annual value is the only sane method of levying rates. Stifle private enterprise or speculation and stagnation is the result. Faddists of all kinds should be locked up for 12 months' observation before being allowed to foist their nostrums on an unthinking public. What is suitable for a fully developed city or district as in the Old Country cannot be made to apply in a young country like this. Thos. Mclndoe.