FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 1880. THE HIGHWAYS BOARD VALUA. T[ON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 57, 12 March 1880, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 1880. THE HIGHWAYS BOARD VALUA. TION.

We notice that Mr Ward, Judge of the Assessment Court, has taken up a firm attitude regarding the neglect of the Manawatu Highways Board to issue the valuation notices required by the Eating Act. In our issue of February 13, we called attention to this matter, and showed that great hardship and injustice were inflicted on many settlers through the neglect of the Board to furnish valuation notices, and that the Board was simply acting under cover of a proviso which evidently -was meant to meet exceptional cases. The proviso referred to is to the effect that the omission or neglect of the Board to furnish the valuation notice shall not affect the validity of the rate. We added : — The coudnct of the Board ia this matter is unjustifiable. The Act distinctly requires the valuatiou notice, aud all the other local bodies in the district furnish them. To take advantage of » proviso of the kind mentioned, is most unbusiness like, and opposed to the spirit and letter of the law. In fact, so palpable is it that the proviso is intended to meet exceptional cases, that we believe the neglect to furnish valuation notices would be a strong ground for asking the Assessment Court to throw out the Whole valuation roll. Wo bring the matter before the settlers at the requtst of several who have suffered, and we trust that if there is no other way of " getting at " the Board, Mr Ward will, when sitting at the Assessment Court, read the Highways Board a severe leoture upon their proper duties. From an advertisement in another column it will be seen that the valuation list for the Manawatu Highways district has been actually thrown out by the Judge of the Assessment Court, on the ground that •' notices of valuation had not been given as required by section 12 of the Rating Act." We cannot but regret the loss of public moneys entailed by the laches of the persons whose neglect has led to this decision, and we are sure we echo the feelings of the ratepayers when we express the wish that it were possible to make the responsible persons bear the additional cost. But altogether apart from their executive officers, the members of the Highways Board are themselves greatly to blame, as it was their duty to have made themselves acquainted with the provisions of the Act, and to have insisted on those provisions being complied with. Mr Ward's position as Judge of the Assessment Court is that tf arbitrator between the publio

and the Board. In the present case he has protected the interests of the ratepayers by compelling the Board to issue the valuation noticos required by the Act, thus enabling settlers to know exactly, without expensive journeys, the valuations placed upon their properties. We have no doubt that in certain quarters there will be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth, owing to Mr "Ward's action, but we believe the settlers will to a man support him in the course he has taken to vindicate the law and the privileges of the ratepayers. The persons upon whom indignation should rest, are those who have for two or three years past treated with absolute contempt one of the most important provisions and safeguards of the Eating Act.