FARM VALUES

Hokitika Guardian, 27 July 1933, Page 6

FARM VALUES

'STATEMENT BY MINISTER

(Pe Press Association — Copyright.)

WELLINGTON. July 26

Speaking at the luncheon of the County Conference to-dav, the Ministe,. of Lands, Air Ransom, said it had been suggested that the Government should ludd itself li hie to the counties for the indebtedness of the farmers who are occupying Crown lands. If the. Government adopted that, course, the money would have to be found bv the Consolidated Fund, which would involve extra taxation. ■Mr Ransom said strong represen.a----tjon-s had boc, n made for' the revaluation of the farm land. If he believed that ia revaluation would place the industry on a. sound footing, it -would not - take him long to place legid iticn before Cabinet, but he knew perfectly well that, j,f revaluation did take place, the County Councils would immediately strike a higher rate in order to carry on their affairs., and fhe individual fanner would he no bettor olf as far ns his indebtedness to the local bodies was concerned.

Mr Ransom said that under the Agnation -of Land Act, 1925, property owners could obtain a special valuation of their properties, and on failing to obtain a value which was low enough in their estimation, they..could offer the property to the Governmentat its own. valuation. If the Government did not purchase the property at that, value, it had <Q rpdu.ee the value fop. rating purposes to. that figr. nip. The que.stio.n of amending those sections,, said Mr Ransom, had been oArerciising the mind. fhe Go\ eminent for spm c time, and it had. been decided to proceed wi-h tbjs "mendnient. during the coming session of Parliament.-