ASSESSMENT COURT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2143, 19 March 1908, Page 2

ASSESSMENT COURT.

HIGH VALUATIONS.

The Gisborne Assessment Court will bo held before Mr. AY. A. Barton, on Tuesday, April 7th, when six objections will bo heard. The objectors are Messrs Edgar Reynolds, Gladstone Road; J. B. Loydon, Bright Street; I. S. Simson, Wliataupoko; J. F. Hontskis, Ormond Road; F. Smith, Kaiti; and Jessie Tippen, Kaiti; all of the properties being within the borough boundaries. The full rate within the borough is 2s 7)d in the £, calculated upon the rental value of property. Compared with other towns of the same size and providing equal conveniences, tho rate in the £ is not high, but when the values are taken into account and tho true position analysed, it will be seen that there are just grounds for complaint. The general' opinion of property-owners and occupiers is that rents are abnormally high, too high for the size of the district, and out of all keeping with the quantity of land that is available for building purposes. In a city like ■Wellington, where land is almost unobtainable, and whore the houses must necessarily bo congested, there is some excuse for high routs, but in Gisborne tliero are large areas of land lying vacant, unimproved, and entirely out of use, which could be employed for residential purposes, and tho high rents asked reduced as a consequence. In calculating the values the Borough Valuer always leaves a reasonable margin to the benefit of the occupier For instance, a property returning £SO a year in rent would bo ratod at about £45 or £46, and would pay accordingly. But this position is left: The higher the values the higher tho rate, notwithstanding the nominal amount that is levied in the £. If a property is rated on a rental value of £6O a year, as it would he with other towns, and is actually only worth here £3O a year, the rates are, consequently, excessive and disproportionate to the benefits received.

In the case of unimproved land the rental is calculated at the rate of 5 per cent on the capital value, with t-ho result that a section valued at £3O pays rates at the rate of £ls a year, for perhaps merely grazing a horse or cow. There is very little fault to be found with this, as the rate should induce landholders to build, and turn such property to better uso.