LAND VALUATION.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 753, 4 August 1922, Page 5

LAND VALUATION.

THE PRESENT SYSTEM. In response to requests made to us by several! people who have become interested in the controversy that has been aroused by the recenjf valuation of Pukekohe Borough we give the following extracts from a memorandum upon the system adopted by t,he Land Valuation Department, issued by the Valuer-General: on May 11th, 1921 “JTie essential qualifications of a valuer who is employed fn a country district are reputed local knowledge of land values and a practical knowledge of farming pursuits, both agricultural! and pastoral, and of values of improvements.” “A valuer is urtresitjridted ’in his means cjf Ascertaining facts necessary to enable him to make valuations. I-Ie is required i»o he diligent, in securing evidence of values,, and to act upon the beat evidence he is able to obtain. He has to be specially familiar wjth the real estate market in the district in which he values propeqty-” . “A valuer before he undertakes lbs duties must make a declaration that he wiill faithfully and impartially.'and to the best of his skill and judgment make a fjrue and faithful, valuation of all real esltdte which it becomes his duty to value,.” “Uniformity of the unimproved value of land is of the utmost importance Rural land of similar quality and position must be vdhiod uniformly, whether in a ferge or small holding so as to insure uniformity of unimproved value.” “|t is therefore particularly necessary that uniformity of unimproved values should be steadied by the valuer,, otherwise one owner will be taxed and ra/ted unfairly in comparison with his neighbour.”