COUNTY VALUATIONS

Waipa Post, Volume 48, Issue 3470, 24 May 1934, Page 5

COUNTY VALUATIONS

SHOULD COUNCIL TAKE ACTION? At Wednesday's meeting oi the Waipa County Council, correspondence was read from the officer-in-charge, Valuation Depaitment, advising that a sitting of the Assessment Court to consider objections to valuations in the county will be held at Hamilton, on Tuesday, sth June, at 10 a.m., and stating that the council's assessor has been advised according y. The chairman commented that the council could object to applications for re-valuation. If the council decided to rate on the basis of 75 per cent of the old valuations it would probably meet the case, though it would not absolutely equalise the position, as some properties had been devalued by more than 25 per cent. It was. stated that drainage boards do not come within the scope of the amending Act. Only counties, boroughs and road districts are provided for. No provision had apparently been made for drainage boards.

A councillor: Perhaps the Government considered the drainage boards' stock had been sufficiently watered! (Laughter.) One council'or said his land had recently been re-valued. He thought it unfair now to object to any similar applications from other ratepayers.

The chairman said any objection lodged by the council would have to be supported. Maybe it would be th.2_ council's policy to object to reductions of more than 25 per cent. The clerk stated some properties had been de-valued by 40 per cent. Cr Peacocke: Those properties must have been very greatly over-valued, for the Government's policy is surely not to grant excessive reductions. Cr Onion said if revaluation were applied for fairly universally Hie Government would be forced to consent to a complete re-valuaticn of the whole county. . To a question, the chairman said the council could object to re-valu-ations exceeding 25 per cent en the ground that they were inequitable. The valuers' estimates have, of course, to be reviewed by the Assessment Court. It was pointed out that if the council objected, all applications for revaluation would be forced into the Assessment Court. At present scores of them are granted without the Court hearing any objections. The chairman, with Crs Clarke, Storey and McGee, were appointed a sub-committee to investigate the position with a view to taking action.