CITY VALUATIONS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2294, 30 October 1914, Page 6

CITY VALUATIONS

« : CRITICISED BY COUNCILLORS. Monstrous injustice has been done to the ratepayers of Wellington by the reoent valuations, according to Councillor R. Fletcher, who mentioned the matter at last night's meeting of the City Council, and severely criticised tho work dono by the Government valuers. Tho councillor mentioned that in his own case tho result of the valuation had been that he was paying £5 or £6 extra in rates this j'ear (for no valid reason. He asked if the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luko) could deviso any scheme for bringing the whole matter _ before the Government, with the object of having tho injustice of the present system removed. The Mayor said that never a day; passed but ho received letters 'from' people in Wellington complaining of the valuations. Ho considered, however, that Councillor Fletcher should have lodged an objection with tho Assessment Court. Councillor Fletcher: Absolutely ncr use. The Mayor agreed that the present basis on which the Assessment Court was established was not satisfactory. Ho believed that it should be set up on a different basis. Councillor Flotcher said ho would take tho opportunity of bringing the matter up for discussion in the proper manner, so that representations could bo made to tho Government. Councillor R. A. Wright pointed out that when tho rates were being struck it was stated that valuations would probably go up, and that a lower rate should bo struck, but the' council took no notice. It was their own fault. Councillor T. C. A. Hislop said the complaint was not in reference to rates, but was that- the Government had employed inexperienced valuers. Councillor M'Konzio submitted that something was wrong when the people of Wellington could obtain insurance for an amount greater than the Government valuation of their buildings. Councillor M. F. Luckio suggested that tho system of rating on tho uu--improved value left an opening for the Unimproved value to bo raised, and for the value of tho improvements to bo reduced. He 'subsequently gavo notice to movo at the next meeting of the council: "That a poll of ratepayers bo taken at the earliest possiblo date to decide whether or not tho council nhall revert to tho principlo of ratuig on annual values in lieu of the present system of rating on unimproved values"