ASSESSMENT COURTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 70, 27 April 1880, Page 2

ASSESSMENT COURTS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MANAWATU HERALD. Sir, — It is with reluctance thai I ask y>u kindly to allow mo space to state an injustice done to me and several others in the township of Sanson, we being rated by the valuatoi of the Manawatu Highways Board £50 for each quarter acre section, independent of positiou. None of the sections have been sold for more than £20, and they would not realise near that at present. I having eight sections valued at £50 each," I thought to get satisfaciiou at the Assessment Court at Palmerstou, and thither I went fifteen miles. I thought to get justice, but to my surprise I, with several others, after proving the valuation too high by more than one half, the Judge valued them at £25 each section and put on 10 per cent, instead of 5 per cent, as before, and as all the rest of the district has been valued and 5 per cent put on the valuation, we cannot see why we who appealed against the rate of our property being so high should have 10 per cent put on our property and others all through the district 5 per cent. If a Justice of the Peace has power to double the per contage of those who may appeal tt> him for being assessed too high, it will be much better to do away with Assessment Courts and save the expense of them, and also thu expenses of those who are duped, aa I have had to go twice to Palmerston, brfing one of those who went last month, when it was put off because notices had not been sent to all 'ratepayers. I am, &c, One ■who wishes Fair. Play. Sanson, April 23, iB6O. [We certainly share our correspondent's surprise at the alleged inequality of the assessments. If the basis of the assess ments throughout tho Highways District wan five per cent upon actual value, we see no possible reason why in the case of those who appealed the basis should be raised to 10 per cent.— Ed. Al. Herald.]