VALUES ARE TOO HIGH, IT IS ASSURED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17915, 3 August 1926, Page 14

VALUES ARE TOO HIGH, IT IS ASSURED.

WAIMAIRI RATEPAYERS MAKE A PROTEST; ASK FOR RE-VALUATION. Are land valuations in the Harewood riding of the Waimairi County excessive? The opinion that they are was expressed at a meeting of ratepayers last night, and it was suggested that the Valuation Department should reconsider the matter. There was an attendance of about sixty. Mr G. Shipley, representative of the Harewood riding on the Waimaiti County Council, was voted to the chiir; Messrs W. Gale and D. Pullar, valuers, attended and replied to criticism. The chairman called on Mr T. Crosland, the convener, to address the meeting. x «. ; Mr Crosland said that he had called the meeting at the instigation of quite a number of ratepayers. A great many considered that the values were excessive and inequitable. In some instances it would appear that the valuations were very high in comparison with neighbouring properties. In his opinion a great many of the valuations were wrong. They knew that every ratepayer had the right to an individual objection, but he thought that if a meeting were held it would carrj' more weight. Mr Crosland moved: “That this meeting considers that the valuations in the Harewood riding are excessive and inequitable, and is of opinion that the valuations should be reconsidered by the Valuation Department.'’ The motion was seconded by Mr in reply to the chairman, Mr Pullar said that it was nine vears since the county had been valued. The Waimairi County Council had passed a motion asking for a valuation. Subsequent!' the motion was rescinded, but the Valuer-General decided to go on with the valuation.

Mr W. J. Walter said that the Waimairi County Council had never asked the Department to make a valuation. At the invitation of the chairman, Mr Walter addressed the meeting. He said that the valuations were excessive. Land was worth only what it would produce. The Valuation Department had valued the land on its prospective value, which was wrong for rural land. The unimproved value of Marshland had been increased £90,000. In the Avon riding, a residential area,- values were far lower than in Marshland. Land values throughout New Zealand were too high. In Waimairi the values were 25 per cent too high. If the valuators went to live on the land at their valuations they could not make a living out of it. In some instances land valued at £96 an acre brought £IOO an acre. Mr Pullar: Good valuing. Mr Walter: The man adjoining it bought it to increase the size of his farm. The small man could not buy it. Mr Gale: I’ll challenge you, and make it a suit of clothes that you are wrong in the price. Mr Walter: Your valuation was £3025 for thirty-two acres. Mr Gale: You’re wrong. Mr Walter: It is the valuation given to me by the Waimairi county. Mr Gale: I am game to back my opinion you arc wrong. You won’t take it up. Mr Walter: I can’t take it up. I’ll look up the figures again. Mr Gale: Yes*.but these people won’t be here. Mr Walter: If I am wrong I'll a polo gise. A voice: You are right. Jack. Continuing, Mr Walter quoted the revaluation of soldier settlements and said that there had been considerable reduction at Avonhead. With regard to the Assessment Court he thought this was only a farce. The objectors ought to have a representative on the court. Mr Crosland said that he would like to know how the values were arrived at. Mr Pullar said that the valuation was what a property would readily fetch when put on the market under ordinary terms. Mr Gale replied to certain criticism. He said the statement had been made that the men who revalued soldiers’ lands had cut down. It was quite probable that in the first place the soldiers' land was too dear. When values were placed on property it was because of sales that had taken place of like properties in area and quality. The speaker agreed with the opinion of the Minister of Lands that land values were too high, but it was not the Government value which was too high; it was the purchaser's value. Mr Walter: And you are keeping up to the purchaser’s price. Mr Gale: No, I am not. Continuing he said that there could be only one value for land, and that was what could be obtained for it in the open market. The valuators were quite prepared to meet objectors, but it must be done in the ordinary way. Mr Walter disagreed with Mr Gale’s view regarding the fixing of values. He said that the value of land must be based on what it could produce. He did not think it was the intention of the Government to value land up to the highest point. After further discussion the motion was put and carried.