FARMERS' UNION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8162, 9 November 1904, Page 3

FARMERS' UNION.

• SUMMER CONFERENCE. VALUATION FOE IMPROVEMENTS. The New Zealand Farmers' Union Conference resumed its session this morning, Mr G. W. Lead Hey presiding. The attendance •was increased by the arrival of Mr M. M. Kirkbrids, M-ITR. (Manukau), Mr A. M. Paterson, M..R.CV.S. (veterinary organiser for Southland) and Mr D. Gilchrisfc (Waikaka, Southland). Mr Studholme brought up the question of valuation for improvemen>ts on lakd, which, waisinftrodfuoed by Mr J. O'Halloran on tho previous day. Be said t&aib the whofe of the friction, in valuation hanged round the question of improvements.' Farmers could not know exactly where they were till tho Government defined "improvement." The Department's instructions ; were terribly nk&m in allowing value for improvements, "but when the* standpoint of -the Government waa known, they could attempt to get more 'liberal treatment, fie moved—" That Ciie Gwernment should be asked to give a full explanation pi the basis adopted by t3ie Valuation of I/Sod Department for arriving at the value of all improvements, by drawing up a sohedule setting out wiTet constitutes improvements and what are the 1 maximum amounts allowed by tfce (Department for each class ; also that ht> printed instructions should be issued to Government valuators bearing on this matter by the j Government or by officers of the Valuation of Land Department; unless such are at the same time published and circulated to the various branches of the Farmers' Union for tie information of farmers." Mr J. O'Halloran, in seconding the motion, said that the proceedings of valuators were sometimes absurd. He had known j men, leasing Crown lands, who^ had spent "hundreds of pounds in sowing grass-seeds on hill-sides, turning barren wastes into " clover spurs " and " oocksfoot spurs," but not a penny had been allowed for their improvement; indeed, the result was that the rents were doubled by competition for these improved holdings. To his mind, the best improvement made on Crown lands was surface sowing, but this was not recognised by the' Government as an improvement, and nothing was allowed for It. Consequently, settlers were discouraged, and the effect was a diminution in production, a result which must injure towns as well as the country. Another matter claiming attention was roading. He had bought land from the Government for £2 an acre, and 10s of this rate had been fixed to cover roading. In order to keep the roads in good order he had to pay the heaviest Jocal tax in the colony, but under the present system of valuation the roading would not be recognised as an improvement on the land if he were selling it. Mr J. Lambie said that a large area of land in Ashburton depended on water races for its fertility, but the valuators did jtjot make allowance for the water. Mr H. Buckland (Waikouaitd) said that in Southland allowances were made for surface-sowing on Crown leases. The Valuation Act provided for compensation for improvements, and what was needed was to ask the Government to attend more carefully to its own regulation. Air A. E- Russell (Palmerston North) said that if the valuators did not value in accordance with the standards of the Department their assessments were over- | ruled. .In his district frhere was no cause i for complaint about the assessment of \ capital value, and the whole trouble waa about improvements. Mr A. J. M'Curdy said that if a nan put up a creamery near land which he was leasing the valuation of the holding was raised, and the man was penalised for his industry. i Mr Kirkbride said that the fault lay in ' the interpretation clause of the Assessment Act Amendment Act. The effect of this was that a valuer went on to land and fixed the unimproved! value at tihe figure which, in his opinion, the land, without any improvement, would realise under fair conditions, in open < market- Roads, I schools and other improvements effected by i the settlers did not enter the calculation, .and the omission was injustice, for the unimproved value should be the capital value less allowances for all improvements. He had endeavoured, during the past session, to secure the insertion of a clause in the' Act providing that local bodies or rate- | payers should elect one assessor to the Asi sessment Court. A motion in this direci tion had been defeated by only one vote, j but he would again introduce^ Jshe matter in Parliament l ' at the next seasibti. The motion was carried. MUTUAL INSURANCE. Tnft Conference went into committed to discuss the following wmit from Auckknid: I ,-r*" That every effort should be made ro get the mutual fire insurance scheme completed, with a view to starting business."