The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, AUGUST 11, 1906.

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

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, AUGUST 11, 1906.

XmiKE'are many worse things connected with Government land valuations than that which Mr Julius Caesar draw attention to at yesterday’s meeting of the Farmers’ Union. For all that he did woil to raise a discussion on tho matter, for it is quite eon. coivablo that land jobbiug by Government valuers is an undesirable thing that should bo prohibited by tho Department. Tho .circumstances relatod by Mr Caesar, as reported in another column, did not disclose any unfair dealing: as far a 3 that caso is concerned ; but if there was nothing more in it than that it established the precedoi.it that a valuor may be also a purchaser and seller, it has its objectionable features which the Department should discountonane". It is easy to imagine that if trafficking in properties bo permitted to valuers an unfair use of it may bo made, because valuers havo special advantages not possessed by others of knowing what properties arc most likely to soli at an increase, and many buyers are inlluenced ia their decisions by tho Government valuations which, if the valuer himself be also tho owner, or even tho prospective owner, could easily be faked to suit his interests. Then again, there are many people who havo no desire to sell their properties, aud who have for that reason never taken the trouble to place a value upon them until they are , confronted with tho valuer’s estimate. [ Their natural instincts cause them to I demur to what appears at first sight an exaggerated price. Then, when the stereotyped question, “Will you sell at that figure ? ” is put to them, and not dreaming that tho quostionor is a would-be purchaser, they answer allirmatively and begin to regret their thoughtless haste tivo minutes after the bargain is closod. Valuers too aro supposed to possess an unbiassed and disinterested status and to do what is fair between their employers and tho owners : but if they are permitted to deal in land they cannot preservo that attitude as long as thero exists a thought ia their minds of tho possibility of a deal on their own account, and tho matter becomes doubly objectionable now that the Government has | decided to mako its valuations- annu*

ally. lint, ns wo have said, tlioro aro many grosser objections to tho present valuation .system for whieli not tho valuers bus tlio Department itself is responsible. I’robably tho worst of these is that tho valuers aro instructed to take as the standard of values any boom sale that limy ran sci/.o upon, and this rules tho valuation of other properties for miles around. Tho absurdity of such a syetom is all too apparent to everyone but tho Department itself and tho Minister lately at the head of it. This gontlomnn sori ously averred that no fairer ostimato could ho arrived at than tho price agreed to ho paid by a purchasor, and no nocount was taken by tho Department of tho terms of tho purchase or tho causes that led to it. Thus in hundreds of easos where land changed hands for (ho nonnoo upon small deposits and heavy mortgages on tho eluineo of tho Loom swelling, permanent sottlors, who wore making a propor uso of thoir laud and uot hold■ iug for speculative sale, wore subjected to increased taxation because of tho speculators who in many eases had littlo to loso if thoir expectations woro not realised. Tlio Department can never seo tlio justice of tho axiom that laud is north only what it will produco, and that tlio fairest basis of land taxation is sot upon that standard, not limitod to one year's production or in* come, howovor, but tho avorago for a period of years. It prefers tft screw tlio last farthing out of industrious sottlors by way of taxation in order to accumulate record surpluses beoauso forsooth some speculative genius, with a desiro to grow suddenly rich on a capital of a hundred pounds or so, indulges in a gamblo. Supposo, therefore, that a gambling craze broke out amongst Government valuers, and it is not a remote possibility when the caso cited by Mr Caesar moets thoir gaze, it would bo interesting to observe how the Department would view its present illogical position in regard to the method of land valuing. If by such means it could bo iniucod to eomo to its proper senses on the question Mr Caesar should encourage valuors to become purchasers rather than condemn them for so doing.

Tins full fa: the roliof of sufferers by tbo rooont flood and tbo fund for the benefit of the family of the Into Captain Nioolas wore dealt with yeßtorday, Tto gouerous response made by the public in e ach ca-o redounds to tbo credit of the district It ib not so much the actual amounts received—and they were moat liberal—as the prompt and hearty response made to the appeal for help ; ar.d better still, porhaps in regard to the flood was tbo spirit of self-reliauce end maoly indopondonce displayed by the sufferers. There was throughout a tendenoy to battle through the storm of adversity without seeking the assistance so generously proffored. Thus the work of tho committee was materially lightened, and though some of those who so bravely refused tho offers of bolp may havo a hard task for a year or two to recoup their losses, they will have the satisfaction cf knowing that tboir self denial has enabled a wider distribution of tho funds to those who sadly required bolp, Tho manner of that aid being given was also most commendable, and it was all done so tactfully that anycno could accept iu tbo gracious spirit in which it was offered. Destructive as such a flood may be, and very ead as was tho Aotea disaster, a community that responds as was dono in regard to tho benefit funds must be the richer for bring permeated by such a feeling of sympathy and generosity. Tho funds collected include some large amounts given without tho leaat ostentation, and they also inoludo many lesser 3ums given by pooplo who as heartily gave what (hey felt tboy could ufford. The raising of those funds must form a highly honorable chapter in the history of tho district, and much as we all doeiro that each ncod may never again arise, we beliovo we could safely say that the eame generous spirit would ever prevail.