LAND VALUATION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19672, 14 December 1933, Page 8

LAND VALUATION

DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE. By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON. December 13. When the vote for the Valuation Department came before the House in Committee to-night, Mr P. McKeen (Lab., Wellington Sbuth) asked whether the Government intended to bring down legislation to deal with persons who were securing special valuation. Mr C. A. Wilkinson (Ind., Egmont), asked whether it was not possible to speed up the valuations of the small boroughs and counties affected, and said that rates had been imposed on a valuation which did not exist. Mr C. H. Chapman (Lab.. Wellington North), alleged that revaluations were held up by the large number of special valuations. Wellington city values had dropped £2,000,000 owing to private valuations. Mi H. M. Rushworth (Ind.. Bay of Islands) asked whether valuations could be made until there was some meaning attached to the money unit. Mr W Nash (Lab.. Hutt) said that if the Minister would take some of the properties offered at ridiculously low prices the special valuations would be checked. Mr W. A. Veitch (Ind., Wanganui) said that there was nothing more futile than trying to value land at the present time. The lion. E. A. Ransom replied that legislation was to be introduced covering the position of special valuations. During the last five years 64 per cent of the cities, boroughs, and counties had been revalued, and the Department was endeavouring to speed up the work. The vote was passed.