VALUATIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 6 October 1920, Page 1

VALUATIONS

(Our Parliamentary Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, October 5. Sir Walter Buchanan told the Legislative Council while the Valuation of Land Amendment Bill was under discussion that the Valuation Department did its work worse than any other Government Department. Land ought to be valued on its production capacity, But the Department employed men who had never worked on land and knew nothing about production. These men were moved into important positions by succession and promotion without ever having an opportunity to get a practical knowledge o'f land, and the consequence was that valuations were unfair; Sir W. Buchanan protested against the delay in revaluations and mentioned that his own district in Wairarapa had not been revalued for many years. That was to his personal advantage, but it was not in the public interest. ~ . Sir Francis Bell in reply, said that the Department had very great difficult v in securing the services of competent valuers. Such men were not plentiful. The Department was doing its best, but simultaneously the valuation of all districts was quite impracticable.' A huge -staff would lie required for such work. The Bill was read a second time.

This is the Bill that creates a new assessment court with a permanent head.