MOUNT EDEN VALUATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20779, 23 January 1931, Page 14

MOUNT EDEN VALUATIONS.

Sir, —Actions, not words, is the motto to be adopted by the ratepayers of Mount Eden. This dilly-dallying business fiddling with revaluations has got to cease, or goodness knows where it will all end. Amalgamation with tho Auckland City Council is tho only way of solving the problem. Now, ratepayers, get together before it is too late. Ratepayer.

Sir, —Kindly allow me to add my protest against the action of the Mount Eden Council in attempting to increase its revenue by raising the valuations on ratable properties in the borough. To maintain old valuations would have railed for many objections, but an increase at this time when values have fallen all round and rents have not only been reduced, but will have to be further reduced, is a most remarkable exhibition of incapacity. Presumably the Council of Mount Eden thinks .it can carry this through without much trouble, but it is evident ratepayers are waking up to the impossibility of meeting this increased demand and will resist. Their resistance must meet with success if they go to the Court. Ratepayers may see whether they have reasonable grounds for objecting with success, the position is clear. The Rating Act, 1925, section 2, sub-section (a) provides:—"ln respect of property within any district where the system of rating properly on its annual value is in force means the rent at which such property would let from year to year, deducting therefrom 20 per centum in respect of houses, buildings and other perishablo property, and 10 per centum in case of land and other hereditaments, but shall in no case be less than 5 per centum of tho value of the fee-simple thereof." Rates in Mount Eden based on old valuations are oppressive and ratepayers may well consider that it would be to their benefit to immediately take steps to unite with the city. Another Objector.