CITY VALUATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20520, 22 March 1930, Page 14

CITY VALUATIONS.

COURT HEARS OBJECTION^

. SEVERAL REDUCTIONS MADE

AMUSEMENT PARK AREA.

CITY MISSION'S PREMISES,

Objections to the new valuation list of the City of Auckland were hoard at a sitting of the Assessment Court in the

Town Hall yesterday. Although 520 objections were lodged, only about 70 cases came before the Court. Mr. Wyvern tWilson, S.M., presided. . The total redactions which have been made amount to about £20,000, which

includes a reduction of £4522 on property in the Orakei subdivision. The total * ratable value of the new valuation list

> was £2,781,224, and the total ratable * value for 1929-30 was £2,698,716. On this calculation, the increase in ratable value was £82,508. This increase will be ..reduced to approximately £62,000 by the -..reductions made by the Court and by means of compromise. "The child is not yet born who will see retail businesses established in King's •• Drive," ' said Mr. T. Mclndoe, land .valuer, in giving evidence in support of a • claim for reduction made by the Auckland Amusement Park, Limited. Mr. Mclndoc claimed that the site of the park £ was a purely manufacturing one. His valuation of the site and buildings was , £31,305. Reduction In Rental. Replying to the magistrate, witness said he knew of only one purchase of property ' in the vicinity of the park during recent years. There had been little movement in property for some years. F. T. Eyre, public accountant, and secretary of tho company, said the site was leased from tho Auckland Harbour Board in 1926 at £2OOO a year. This was reduced in July, 1929, to £IOOO, and a further reduction was now being sought. The c park was not in operation all the year , g round. ; ' Mr. P. J. Notley, city valuer, said tho chief basis of the objection seemed to be • T that the company was not paying. The magistrate said that little notice could be taken of the reduction in rental. He commented upon the lack of detail to go upon, and said that he would accept the value of £31,305. On this 7 could be assessed a ratable value of £1565, to which figure he would reduce : the present assessment of £2125. c No Power of Exemption. "This Court has no jurisdiction to give - exemption from rating," said Mr. Notley, when an application for exemption of cerv tain offices in the building of the Auckland, City Mission, at tha corner of " (Wellesley Street and Albert Street was . made by the Rev. Jasper Calder. J Mr. Calder said that the offices for .which he requested exemption were used - in connection with the distribution of ' charitable aid and relief. Portion of the ~ building was let, and no objection was raised to the rating of it. However, it 'J. was considered the chapel, me_d:cal clinic and 'offices of mission workers should be exempted. In support of his claim, Mr. Calder cited the section of the Rating Act, 1925, ■which gives exemption to land and buildings used for the purposes of a charitable institution for the free maintenance or - relief of the needy. He also quoted the section dealing with the exemption of chapels. < The magistrate affirmed Mr. Motley's contention that the Court wais unable to decide the question of the ratability of property. Mr. that he had treated the ..case leniently, and the value of cer.tain offices had been reduced from £404 to £346. V . Offices in Ferry Buildings. Three successful pbjections were entered - 0 by the Auckland Harbour Board, which . was represented by the superintendent, v Mr. H. B. Burnett.- Asking for a reduction in the case of five offices in the ~ Ferry Buildings, Mr. Burnett said that •• difficulty had been found in letting them, some having been empty for two years. T* The building was an old one, and modern r. premises had affected the returns. b On the five offices a reduction of £199 to £l6l "was made.

s. The fish market site in Customs Street c .West was the subject of another objecT : tion lodged by the board. The valuation 'was' reduced from £750 to £SOO. A reduction from £690 to £660 was made in ~ the case of a workshop building in Quay Street. "" -'There is a general downward trend in rents throughout the city," said Mr. Reed, who appeared in support of a claim J for redaction 6f the ratable value of a £ brick workshop in Quay Street, occupied ••= by C./- C. Wakefield and Company, Limited'. He stated that .the building * was old, and a satisfactory rent could not be maintained. The magistrate computed the value of I', the site and building at £15,200. He accordingly reduced the- ratable value ■?- from ££§s to £760. A successful objection to an increase in E the ratable value of premises in Customs to ' Street past was made by John Burns - and Company, Limited, for whom Mr. i Reed appeared. Air. Notley said that the <= increase had been made as the area was becoming a shopping area. He valued *' the property at £48,000, £36,000 for the \ land and £12,000 for the building. The magistrate reduced the assessment from £2400 to £2182, last year's figure.