GENERAL REVISION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 117, 22 May 1946, Page 3

GENERAL REVISION

VALUATIONS IN WANGANUI TOWN CLERK’S COMMENT The council had ben active in urging on the Valuation Department the city's claim for a general revision of assessment, and ultimately following a strong deputation to the Minister, its -efforts had been successful, slated the town clerk (Mr. White) in his annual report. The progressive reduction in city valuations for rating purposes has not improved; rather, it reveals a further decline,” Mr. White added. “I have stressed before that if this drift is not arrested it. would be likely to prove an embarrassment to the city. ‘The Minister was entirely sympathetic and stated that he had been greatly impressed with the representations placed before him and the data showing so clearly the consistency with which the situation had adversely developed since the last general revaluation in 1933. He gave an undertaking at the interview that a revision would take place to be effec- ■ ive for the financial year 1947-48 ” Mr. White stated. It should be recorded here that in amending legislation enacted during the last session of Parliament, and dealing with the matter of procedure n connection with revaluations of rateable property between periods of general revision, it is provided that no action will in future be taken by the Valuer-General if the existing figures are in line with the valuations of other properties similarly situated. ‘lt would be mere conjecture at this .juncture to express an opinion as to what will be the aggregate valuation under the revision. It is fair tomment to state, however, that the anomalies which have for years been 'he cause of great dissatisfaction and have led to ever-recurring appeals for relief on the part of those more particularly affected, will be removed. This must result in a more equitable distribution of values, thereby instilling confidence in the average ratepayer. '

“Complaint is frequently heard that ihe city rates are abnormally high. It is well to bear in mind that with a low total valuation the rate levy in the £ must appear higher than it should 'be. At least, this is bound to apply when comparing the rating posiliun in other centres where there i’.as been no falling off in values, with that locally, where the shrinkage has continued year by year without interruption.

The crux of the position in the city U not so much whether the rates levied be regarded as high or low (although unduly high rates are burdensome and apt to retard normal progress), but rather that they should bear a strictly equitable relationship one to another with especial regard to uniform determining factors such as locality and area and the services given by the municipality. Where valuations are disproportionate discontent is manifest, and this, as has keen the ease here, can lead to large rca’ie objection and a steadily diminisi.mg aggregate amount on which to levy the rates. “Reductions of rates in individual instances have inevitably to be borne by those not securing relief. It was an intimate appreciation of this fact Hat prompted the council, at the Municipal Conference in 1944, to present a remit designed, in the absence of special circumstances, to prevent reductions being made it. property values on the application of ratepayels between periods of general revaluation of the area of a local authority. Although not wholly successful, the remedial amendment of Statute referred to previously now places restrictions on an applicant in his desire to invoke the powers contained therein,” Mr. White added.