LAND VALUATION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4483, 25 October 1922, Page 2

LAND VALUATION.

CAPTAIN COLBECKS ADDRESS. Captain Colbeck, in his political address at the Central Theatre last Thursday, dea’t at some length on the subject of land valuation in New Zealand, and pointed out that a general valuation of land for the whole of New Zealand was m,ade during 1897-98, but since that date no general valuation had been made, but portions had been valued from time to time. The question of bringing, aU valuations, in operation on one par-, ticular day was one for the Commission of Taxes to settle, said Captain Colbeck; and he thought that different times of valuation was most unfair. The speaker said that he knew of districts where it was enough to make the valuation at longer periods, than in other districts because land speculation was not so. rife in those districts'. It was as well to bear in mind that should an owner be not satisfied with the court’s decision, he may, under section 31 of the Act of 1900. within 14 days, of? the hearing, require the Valuer-General either to reduce to the value which was considered to be a fair, selling value or else to purchase a property at that value. This process, he said, could also be reversed by the Valuer-Gen-eral Captain Colbeck said he displayed no apathy towards Mr Massey, and did not want to hurt his feelings, and he was quite willing to admit that the Prime Minister had Hone a great deal during the past six months, but only when pressure had been brought to bear by the Farmers’ Union executive at various times. A year ago, he said, when a deputation of the Farmers’ Union executive waited on the Prime Minister and suggested that an all round decrease of 20 per cent, be made, and pointing out the enormous burden- the taxpayers of New Zealand were carrying at that time, Mi; Massey told the deputation that they were damaging the country's credit, and were a lot of winers and croakers, yet in five months after this Mr Massey had reduced taxation and administrative expenditure by £5.000,000, which was practically the amount suggested bv the deputation. Had these steps been taken a year ago, said Captain Colbeck. the Farmers’ Party would not. have gone as it has today.