LAND-VALUATION BASIS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 154, 17 July 1937, Page 7

LAND-VALUATION BASIS

-Presn Association. 1

Farmers Urge Alteration

(By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, This Day. - That the value of manure applied to mcrease the carrying capacity of land end the value of sub-divisional fencing should be capitalised and added to the improvements, not to the unimproved x alue, in valuing land for rating ancr land-tax purposes, was a remit submitted to "the annual conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union afc Wellington yesterday. ^ Mr J. Livingstone . (Southern Hawke's Bay) said that surely the farmer should not be rated and taxed on goodwill created by hiinself. Mr II. O. Mcllsop (Auckland) said cliat to talk of capitalising the value of manure was ridiculous. If a farmer used £50 worth of manure, he would get back £100 in capital value, but, if he then ceased manuring, practieally Ihe wholo of this value would dhappear. On his suggestion tlie remit was altered to rofer to "tho increaso in tlie valuo of the land due to tho use of mamircs" instead of to tho actuul value of manures used. Tho roierence to sub-divisional fences was delcted. The remit was adopted. Mr It. O. Montgomerie (Wanganui) suggested that the Government should be urged to reconsider the wliole system of land valuation, which, it was apparent, was doing injustice. "Soouer 01* lator we will have to take into cousidcratioa the replacement of the annual rcmoval of i'ertility from tho soiJ," ho said. "Distinction should be made belwcen tlie man who is replncing that i'ertility and the man who is not. " No action was taken in this matter.