DUNEDIN RATING LIST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23601, 9 March 1940, Page 12

DUNEDIN RATING LIST

VA LI mT Y 0H A LLEN G EI) UNUSUAL POSSIBILITY MAY REQUIRE SPECIAL ACT [TIT TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION'] DUNE DDT, Friday The validity of the rating list compiled by the city valuer will be challenged by local solicitors at a sitting of the Dimcdin Assessment Court on Monday. Should the Judge uphold their contentions it is probable that an unusual position will arise, as a result of which the City Council may be provented Iroin levying rates on new valuations. Whether or not the list is declared invalid, the sitting of the Court promises to create considerable public interest, for increased valuations have resulted in the lodging of 1020 objections, of which fewer than 300 have been withdrawn. The endeavour by solicitors to prove that the list is not valid will, if successful. create serious difficulties for the City Council, for it will be necessary for the city to be revalued, but in this lies a further serious legal difiicultv. According to the Rating Act, the rating list must be closed on .January 15 of each year. It is pointed out that if the present list is invalid it will be impossible for a new list to be closed by the required date of this year. Consequently it is believed by ratepayers who have taken a keen interest in the position that it will be necessary for a special Act of Parliament to be passed before a new list can become legal, and before the City Council will be able to levy the rates for the year.