FULL COURT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 32, 1 November 1917, Page 9

FULL COURT

TAUMARUNUI VALUATIONS

ASSESSMENT COURT'S DECISION APPEALED AGAINST

The Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout), Mr. Justice Ohapman, and Mr. Justice Hoeking, Bitting as a Full Court, yesterday roeorveil judgment upon an appeal against, a decision of the Assessment Oonrt, which Bat at Taumarunui ou September 10. William. Thomas, nowspaper proprlofor. of Taumarunui, in September appeared before tho Assessment Court as an objector to the valuation made of Section 7, Block VIII, and Lot 1 of Section 8, Block VIII, Taumarunui. Tho Court ordered the unimproved valuation as assessed by the Valuer-General to bo reduced by ten per cent. Thomas, howover, contended that the Court was wrong In upholding (as it did in ite judgment) the .method by. which tho assessment was made. Mr. G. P. Finlay, who appeared for the appellant, explained that Taumaruuul was one of three townships of which tho laud was vested In the Wailtato-Manlo-poto Land Board as trustees for tho beneficial owners, who wero Natives. Hβ contended that tho valuer and the Assessment Court had wrongly made the assessment of the unimproved value as though the owners were seized of an estate in fee simple, free from al! encumbrances and restrictions. There w«a in this cueo a restriction upon the right of alienation, in that the consent of the Governor-General had to be obtained to any Bale. .

Mr. J. TV. Salmond, K. 0.. who appeared for the Valuer-General, replied.