LAND VALUATIONS

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 170, 5 July 1909, Page 2

LAND VALUATIONS

Allowance for Improvements The following circular has been sent by the Valuer-General, Mr P. Heyes, to the valuers in different parts of the country:— "So much prominence is given to the question of insufficient valuation for improvements that I again wish to impress upon the district valuers the necessity for viewing this question in a serious manner. The matter is constantly brought up in the House of Representatives, and the standar 1 objection before the Assessment Court is that unimproved value is increased, while an insufficient amount is allowed for improvements. When the unimproved values in the Dominion were adimttedly low, the value of improvements was not seriously challenged, but now that the values are nearer the selling values, it is necessary for district valuers to see that the value of improvements will stand a careful analysis. The practice of supplying field books with" particulars of the previous valuation has not, in all cases, been rightly appreciated, and I do not want valuers to think that when the unimproved value has been raised and the value of improvements left undisturbed, they will have met all the requirements of a revision. Moreover, when an owner in the Assessment Court is able to show that there are more improvements, and of a greater value, \ than those shown by the valuer, the ! effect is to discredit the valuation, and give rise to the' accusation that the Department has but one object in view—namely, the increase of unim-

proved value for purposes of taxation. It must be apparent to every district valuer that the nearer we get to a standard value, the closer the scruit- ( ing of the methods whereby that volte, lis arrived at, and I expect ! valuer to be in a position, i: caller I upon, to show that he has a hnevrlorr■_■ I of all improvements and th-tir valto.-. ' and to be able to prove to the satisfar- ! tion of the Court and the objector, i that he has made full allowance for a!i j existing improvements, and that his ■ valuation is a fair one in terms of ! the Act." !