GOVERNMENT VALUATIONS

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12501, 30 March 1909, Page 4

GOVERNMENT VALUATIONS

The Hon D. Buddo, Minister in charge of tlie Valuation Department, in a communication to Southland petitioners who complained of over-valua-tion, says : — i'lf is not the desire of tlie Government to exceed selling values in the case, and it is the. practice of the department to endeavour to fix a standard rather below than above the current Market values. It must be remembered, however, -by those ratepayers who fear an increasein their annual payments by way of rates, that this is a matter which is not determined by. the^ value of the roll, but by the amount of revenue required by the council, and by the xonsequeirtj . rate per £ wliich the local body finds it necessary to strike. The regulation- of the amonnt per £ is in the hands of the ratepayers themselves, and not in the hands of the Government. Any reduction which may be made by revision will not, therefore, necessarily ensure a corresponding reduction of rates. I trust that'' the ' ratepayers will assist tlie valuers as much as they are able when the , roll is undergoing revision. 1.-rthe meantime it is advisable that those who differ with the proposed new -values should lodge objections, .in which sliould be. clearly stated the owner's estimate of the selling value. This will greatly assist the revision, as the department has hitherto not been supplied with partcidars as to any individual assessments whieli are considered, to be excessive by those who have publicly challenged tlie accuracy of the proposed values. The lodging of an objection does not in any way compel the objector to appear at the Assessment Court, as you would appear to think, but the objection, if properly filled xip, has the effect of placing the owner's estimate of selling value in contrast with the valuer's, .r-nd secures a review of the valuation. Ifc is a matter for subsequent consideration on the part of tlie owner as to whether he shall appeal. to the court, wliich of course, A he can do iis the event of his objection failing to secure a sufficient reduction to satisfy him."