FOREIGN TIMBER AND COST OF HOUSE

Chronicle (Levin), 4 October 1946, Page 5

FOREIGN TIMBER AND COST OF HOUSE

AITCKLAND, Oct. 3. The view that the price of imported timbers in 1942 should not -b§ used as a basis for the valuation of liouses built previously of such timbers when the 1942 values of houses were b,elng assessed for the purposes of the Land Saies Act, was expressed by Mr. Justice Archer in the Land Saies Court which was hearing an appeal by the Crown against the decision of the Urbau Land Saies Committee to determine the basic value of a house in Remuera. At £1900 the Crown submitted the price was too high and the vendor opposed the appeal. The v'endor was Robert Thomas (Air. Jacobsen) and -the purchaser David Alaurice Curran. Air. R. V. Kay, of Wellington, represented the Crown. Evidence was given that the house which was 20 years oi ti/ was cqnstrueted of oregon which, it was submitted by respondent, had a life of 150 years eompared with 80 years which was considered the life of a house built of New Zealand timber.. A CrQwn witness, Frank Cooper, valuer, stated in crossexamination that oregon and. redwood did not take tlie bo'rer. When asked if he knew that the price of oregon in 1942 was £5 5s for 100 feet, witness asked his Honour whether valuers were expeeted to value at the current cost of material which was virtually unobtainable and therefore was' at. a much higlier price than usual. His Honour said he did not think Ihey should do that. Witness stated that" at the tinre the house was built oregon,' redwood and cedar were conipetitive timbers with local timbers and they sold, at about ihe same price as rimu. He did not think they Avere superior to heatt rimu or matai. The Couyt . ye,sqrved its decision.