LAND SALES ACT RETARDS PROGRESS

Chronicle (Levin), 24 May 1947, Page 2

LAND SALES ACT RETARDS PROGRESS

BLENHEIM, May 22 "Ab.surd, illogical and unfair," were terms applied at a meeting of the Blenheim Borough Council to rulings of the Marlborough Land .Saies Committee on property values in the borough. Speakers emphasised, however, that it was the Act they considered at fault, not the eommittee itself or its members. The target for some outspoken criticism was what one speaker called ' ' the dangerous weakness" of the Act — the nailing of values to the 1942 level almost regardless of the circumstances. The Mayor, Mr. W. J. Girling, con sidered this a " menace to progress" in the case of Blenheim and comparable eommunities. Councillors contended that by insisting on values now disproportionately low the Act not only discouraged vendors unduly, but also made subdivisions for residential pufposes an uheconomicjj proposition, and tied the council 's hands in the matter of property developing newly settled lo,calities, sincc even the highest permissible generai rate levies on the unimproved values in such cases would not nearly cove.the cost of providing adequate roads and footpaths.