SHOULD VALUERS PURCHASE ?

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1831, 11 August 1906, Page 2

SHOULD VALUERS PURCHASE ?

DISCUSSION AT FARMERS’ UNION EXECUTIVE MEETING. The question of tho right of land valuers to purchase was raised by Mr Julius Caesar at the meeting of the Executive of the Poverty Bay Farmers’ Union yesterday.

Readiog from a newspaper clipping t-kan from a Southern journal, Mr Caosar showed that tho owner of 90(1 acres of laud had bcoo valued at a cortain price. He ol j acted to tho valuation, and being interrogated by the valuer consented to sol! at tho pries assessed. Tho valuer purchased,'and made upwards of F 590 by tho deal. fl If tiiio bo ooryept,” rti.uaiksd Mr Caesar, ” a rc-oammeudatiou should certainly bo rn-jds to tho Lauli Department that in futnra no valuer be allowed to do:-). It is allogetkor a wi'ODg thing, and haves the road open to much abuse,” Mr A. H. Wallis thought ho knew tho circumstances acquainted with the case montioned by Mr stteosst'. At o silting of the Assessment Court there was' a disputo ; as to the yaluo, and tho owner was asked ,

if ho would take tOs per sere. Tffs owner said ho would be pleased to gat it, and tho valuer said he would tako the property. Tho valuer sold at a big advance, and he (Mr Wa'lls) understood that tho property ’changed hands e second time at a substantial increauV

Mr Julius Caesar: But that does not get away from the fact that it is a wrong principle. Mr Clayton : In tbo Aseeesment Court tho owner is always asked if he is willing to sell at the pri.es assessed Mr Caesar : I think it is a mattor that should bo brought under tho attention of, tbo Lands Department. Ido not Bee why osery va'uer who happens to corns ajong should brow beat a man liko that. He might have your own place at his own tonus.

The President (Mr W. K. Chambers)! I do not soo that it mstters much who buys tho property so long as the farmer gets his own price.

Mr Cac.ar : But it is open to abuse if tho valuer can buy land liko that. Ho can abuse bis position very much Mr Clayton ; Thcro is ho harm in drawing the attention of the Department to the mattor.

Mr Waili3 : Why not write to Ibe branoh from whence the matter emanates ? It is a local matter, and they should lake wbatover action is nooessarj’. After further diEcussion it was decided to udopt Mr Wallis’ suggestion.