MAUKORO SETTLERS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4402, 12 April 1922, Page 3

MAUKORO SETTLERS.

PLEA FOB BE VALUATION. - glaring injustices. HAURAKI PLAINS.ANOMALY. The position of .the settlers on the Maukcro Estate with regard, to the land valuations was brought before the Hauraki Plains County Council on Monday, Or. J. F. Mayn said the Council had previously dealt with ,the Maukpro fatin The Minister had said that he had powers to see that it was adjusted. He read .tfhe following letter, which had been sent to the ValuerGeneral : “At the last meeting of the Patetpnga Ratepayers’ Association it was decided to .bring under your notice the case of some of the settlers on the Maukoro Estate in the Hauraki Plains County and near Patetonga township. This estate was suU-divid-ed into small farms and .sbld 'to returne 1 soldiers just two years ago, the prices realised ranging from per acre for poor hill country up t<> £45 per acre for rich drained flat land. . — “The adjustment of the valuations for rating purposes has been carried out by the Valuation Department without their taking into consideration 'the selling price or quality of the •land,'with the result that some of the settlers are asked to pay morb than double their fair share of county rates, whilst others escape paying what they should. . . ; -“To instance a few examples, two properties that cost practically the same are rated one ,at £3O and the* other at £lO5. merely because in the first case the land is assessed at only thirty per cent, of the price at which it was sold. The other holding is assessed at more .than its value. In other cases we have £45 per acre land and *£ls per acre land; all assessed at the ‘Same figure, which is, of course, an obvious injustice to the owners of the latter, “We particularly desire to stress the case of two brothers, returned soldiers, by the name of Britton, who with their gratuity took up some 300odd acres of unimproved ti-tree hill country, £2 per acre land. The total purchase price of the land was £734, but they are assessed at considerably, more than double that amount, and are actually paying more rates than another farm on the same estate that was sold at a price in excess of £2OOO. These men are not in a position to pay more than their just share of rates. “Assessments of this estate .were made without any officer of the Valuation Department inspecting the property, nor was any information asked from, the vendors of the property. , “No notice of the assessments was sent to the settlers concerned, and no opportunity -was given them to object. The settlers did not know of the assessments until thby got their rate demands. "A' deputation from ■‘.he Maukoro Estate waited on the Hauraki Plains County Council some months ago.. Acting on the advice of the Council a petition was sent to the Minister-in'-Charge, Valuation Department, praying that the existing Valuation be set aside and fresh ones made at the expense of the Department. The Minister’s reply was in effect that anyone who was dissatisfied could have a fresh valuation made under section 36 of the Valuation of Lands Act, 1908, on payment of the valuation fee.

"The officer in charge, of the Auckland branch of the Valuation Department was then appealed to to rectify what was' an obvious blunder, or worse. But he demanded a fee of £2 2s from each settler flor a new valuation, at the same time holding out the threat that whereas the present assessment is that of 1917, the new valuations if insisted upon would be present-day values. If such is the. case, it would put these settlers at a tremendous disadvantage as compared with the rest of the county, so that the majority of the settlers declined to proceed further in that direction. “But one settler, who had been particularly harshly treated, realising that things could not possibly be made worse for him than they were already, filled in the prescribed form and sent it, with the fee, to 'the Valuations Department .(Auckland), demanding a revaluation. Judge oif his disgust when his cheque was returned, and 'he was informed that as the rest of the settlers were not applying for a new valuation his fee would be six guineas instead of two. • z " “Now, Sir, these settlers who bought in at the height of the land boom are having great difficulty during the present slump in paying their way, and we trust that you will instruct your officers to haye the original assessment of the estate divided among the different sections in a fai»* and equitable way, so that each section shall bear its fair share of taxation and no more, and that such adjustment shall not be executed at the expense of the settlers concerned. In conclusion, I may mention that the settlers who are profiting by the unfair distribution, recognising the injustice that had been done to their neighbours, willingly signed the petition which was sent to the Minister praying for a revaluation. "Trusting y'qu will give this matter your favourabe consideration, and if within your power to do. so, have those most unjust values readjusted before the end of the present month.” Cr, Mayn thought the County should make another effort, to get another valuation. He maintained that with some of the influential settlers the valuation was lower. There were some men quite satisfied, but in fairness to their neighbours they, wished another valuation. Cr. Mayn moved that the clerk make application to the Valuer-Gen-eral, requesting 'that an equitable apportionment of the sections of the Maukoro Estate be made. Cr. T. McLoughlin seconded the inotlor, which was carried without 'dissert.