SCENE IN AN ASSESSMENT COURT,

Otago Witness, Issue 1894, 9 March 1888, Page 14

SCENE IN AN ASSESSMENT COURT,

At the Auckland Assessment Court quite a scene occurred between Mr J. C. Firth aud Mr Barstow, judge of the Assessment Court, re the assessment of Mr Firth's mill. Mr Firth made an oration on the political situation and the villainy of taxation to the assembled appealing ratepayers. Mr Barstow asked Mr Firth to fix the value of the mill in order to give the court some basis upon which to act. Mr Firth said that it was almost a matter of impossibility to tell the value of any property at the present time ; and what was more, he thought that the extravagantexpenditure of the Government and local bodies and the continual borrowing would render it a very difficult matter to say what really would be the value of property in a little while. Already things were in such a state they could scarcely estimate the selling value of property, nor would it be much better as long as this reckless expenditure continued.-— (Great applause.) Mr Barstow said the court was not the place for such demonstrations, neither was it the place to make political speeches, and if such scenes occurred he would adjourn the court. Mr Firth said : " This is the place for people to stand up for their rights— (applause)— and I will not be put down. I stand on my rights. I have neglected appealing too long." Mr Barstow : "AH I ask is to know the capital value of this property. What is that, Mr Firth ? " Mr Firth : " That is like appealing from Herod to Sheol.— (Laughter.) I look upon that tax as equally iniquitous, and I protest against ifc also." Mr Barstow said that he must have something to go upon, and he therefore wished to know at what amount the property was valued under the property tax. Mr Firth : " I pay no property tax this year. To tell you the truth, I have been compelled to mortgage the property these times, and of course the mortgagees have to pay the property tax ; and that is what we shall all come to unless this borrowing and lavish expenditure is stopped." — (Applause.) Ultimately the judge reduced the mill from £550 to £500, and the offices from £250 to £200. There were 800 objections to the valuations, and 600 objectors. A constable was in attendance to run out obstreperous ratepayers who dissenied to the revised valuations.