VALUING LAND

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10965, 29 July 1921, Page 7

VALUING LAND

OPINIONS OF OWNERS SOME VIEWS OP THE VALUEERGENERAL. POSITION OF OBJECTORS. Yesterday morning the Farmers’ Union resumed consideration of the subject of the valuation of rural lands. Mr P. W. Flanagan, Valuer-General, attended the conference, and heard a reiteration of the arguments adduced on Tuesday. The views of the conference /w-ere embodied in the following resolution which a- committee of the conference had drafted:—“That in future for the purpose of getting a more equitable valuation of rural lands and improvements thereon, the Farmers’ Union be aldowed to nominate a representative with a knowledge of locyd valuer, to assist the Government Valuer, and that due notice be served on every property owner when valuation is to be made, and that the whole of the Dominion be revalued periodically, and aii isuch new valuations be given effect to simultaneously. In the event of an appeal, the appellant to have the right to appoint an assessor to the Assessment Court.” THE VALUER-GENERAL. Mr Flanagan said that as to local men accompanying the valuer, that proposal had been before the department on several occasions, but there were always two difficulties. One was a-s to who should pay the expense, and the other was as to who was to decide in the case of a disagreement between the valuer and the man who was accompanying him. Theoretically it was correct . to have periodical valuations, but practically it wa:s not possible.. Now that land was high in value, it took twice the staff to value the land that it took some-years ago. There was not the staff to value the whole of New Zealand in one year. Periodical valuations were utterly impossible as things were at present. Mr C. K. VVileon (Piopio): Will you answer this question? One county was valued twice in six years, and an adjoining county was not revalued —why? •Mr Flanagan said the test was whether there had been a change in the value of the land—a market rise or fall. For instance, in Otago, it was not necessary to revalue land so often as land in the Auckland district. The reason was that values in the south were more settled, lie had been blamed for losing the country thousands of pounds through not revaluing land when the selling price was at its .peak, but if he ’had in recent years valued land" on its selling price, he would have placed the country in a queer position, CONSTITUTION OF ASSESSMENT COURT. As to the constitution of the Assessment Court, the present position was that there was a permanent president. Delegates: That is new to us. That is practically what we asked for. Mi Flanagan said the permanent preeioent went right through the There was' one. assessor for each land i district. These assessors were men who held the general confidence, and when they were appointed they were not,asked what their view* were. The third representative on the court was the appointee of the local authority. Mr Wilson: Will you consider the request for an objectors’ representative? Mr Flanagan said he would give the point consideration. Delegates said the assessor appointed by the. Government would regard it as his work to conserve the Government interests.

Mr Flanagan: Not necessarily. Can. you imagine a man like Mr EWen Campbell sitting there just to conserve the Government interests? Mr A., Robertson (WatTganui): He is objected to in a good many quarters. Mr Flanagan: Whoever was appointed would not please everyone. For that you would ’have to have a man from Heaven. Mi Flanagan said tae cost of valuing land had increased 100 per cent, since 1907 The resolution drafted by the committee was adopted.