THE CITY LEASES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1491, 13 July 1912, Page 12

THE CITY LEASES.

SHOUIjD THEY BE BEYALUEDP

ce; mtounzie's views. Interviewed' some time prior to the date on iriach Hie (By Council reached a conclusion regarding ro-valuation of P.ty leases, ; Councillor M'Keuzio said that no could not compliment tho City Council's Finance Committee nor could ho-give them credit for much foresight or wisdom when bringi'iiij down their report,re the valuation of tho city leases. ■' ' ■ "It.is about soven years," said Councillor M Keuzie, "since tho city was valued, although it is understood that it should bo done every two years. This is especiully necessary in view of tho fluctuations which havo taken place since tho last time it was done. The values in-the suburbs, especially at Island Bay, must jail, whilst the council's own reclaimed laud, leases must rise. Still tho wisdom of our Finance Committee is apparently not penetrating- enough, to eee this. Tho value of the D.I.C. lease should be a fitting enough example for them to think over. We actually Jose from six to eight hundred pounda per annum on our city valuer's estimate. In comparing this lease with another ' which I havo in mind; continued Mr, M'Kcnzio, "and which was taken up and valued at £9 per foot per annum, and is further away li-oni the shopping area of the city, T cannot fail to see the loss on the D.LC. lease, winch is valued at M per foot? . When wo conio to consider 'that something like fifty leases will fall in beforo 1916, it gives an idea of what the importance or revaluation realty means. In taking the ratio in proportion of tho loss that was estimated by tho oity valuer on tho D.I.C. ease, and comparing it villi 'the other leases to fall due, (he eitt must loso closo on' .£30,(100. _ When rated under the annual valuation system, tho revaluation was made yearly, but now, owing to the length of tune sinco the last revaluation, it must cause no end of extra labour and inconvenience to tho city's rate department. Had the Finance Committeo nsked the council's officers' opinion they would havo gained sufficient knowledge lo brin" down a report recommending'the proposal. But, unfortunately, when they reported it was too lato for this years valuation, considering that the valuation date is from April, and' tho report is brought down before the oouncil in June." ■' • "How long would it take to get tht valuation?" asked tho reporter. "If wo started to revalue tho city now,' and by the time no had deo:!t with all objections, it would dike us all oui- lime to get the valuation in order. for- Ifll3-li wiling year." . .What would it cost? "From the information which I hnvc fiathered, it had not cost onylhin;? for the last two valuations. Which'reminds me." concluded Mr. M'Konzio, "that lh« Government did not see fit t.-> reward the council's officer for his valuable services thus rendered."

According to Mr."" Charles Henry. Mel tzer, the Now York critic, opera .'composers rcccivo far from adequate foos for tho performance, of their works. A few ycors ngo lluniperdinck was receiving only 7ii dollars a performance for "ITanFel and Grctol," ami it is doubtful if lip ects more to-day. Wolf-Ferrari, tlio "lion" of the. present season received only 100 dollars a n'sht for. liis "Lo Donno Cnriose," from a chief opera liohpo. Probably (wo-tliirdg of that, was paid away Ut middlemen. When it is remembered that the singers TCcoivo fancy price?, rixhuiiip as high as 2500 dollars a night for Caruso, it certainly seems that Iho composers tiro unfairly treated. Puccini has made as much as 400 dollars a night—phored \ri()i his publishers and ofliovs—but lu's demands hove rosiiltcd in his works being tabooed by Andreas Dippol,