HIGH VALUATIONS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2299, 5 November 1914, Page 6

HIGH VALUATIONS

. • . * ——;.• ■ A SERIOUS GRIEVANCE. A discussion on the recently imposed values was raised in. the Houee ot Representatives by Dr. A. K. Newmaa last night. .• . s . , ._ . Dr. Newman referred to the question he had addressed to the Prime Minis-, ter (which question was published yesterday). Unimproved values in the City of Wellington, he.said, had been, jumped up to a preposterous extent, and tho grievance was being very sorely felt.. The assessment of the high unimproved values, was monstrously unjust. Mr. G. J. Anderson spoke of the method of valuation.- as it applied to the country districts. In many parts of Ma district, while the capital valuos imposed were-fair, the apportionment of the capital'value into improve- , ments and \uiimproved value was very unfair. In-his opinion there was.no basis upon which such an a'pportionT ment could he made, aiid it was with a certain amount .of satisfaction that lie noted now tb'at'.tho cibica were beginning to be dissatisfied with the system of rating on unimproved values. . The Primo Minister said he liad referred Dr. Newman's question to the Department. Ho had received a number of complaints during the last two' or three months from all over New Zealand, and on account of tho complaints that had.como along he had arranged with his colleagues to appoint a commission of inquiry, to look into these claims, and to endeavour to provide a remedy. The difficulty seemed to be that the system of appeal wae not satisfactory. The chairman of the commission to be set up would be Mr. T. F. Martin, whom, lie believed, wae one of the beet men for the work in New Zealand. He would also be assisted by two Very good men.