MOUTOA ESTATE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2448, 1 July 1922, Page 2

MOUTOA ESTATE.

SEQUEL TO ITS RE-VALUATION. GOVERNMENT ASKED TO TAKSt*,.. IT-OVER. Taking advantage of a clause in . the Valuation Act, the owners of 4,218 acres, comprising part of the Moutoa Estate on the road from Foxton to Shannon, have a “Standard” reporter learned this week, called upon the Government to take over the property at the owners’ valuation. Some time ago a Government- rc- valuation of the land was made at £112,000, but the owners — who have carried their objections to the Assessment Court—contended that it should be reduced to £90,000. The Court sustained the revaluation and accordingly ’the owners have requested the Government to take over the land at their own valuation, failing a reduction in the assessment to that amount. The property, according to evidence given at the Assessment Court, is situated about a mile from the main road and is largely.flaxbearing, being all low-lying swamp, in the centre of a basin, and being subject to frequent floods. In 1916 the valuation of £8 per acre includ- ‘ * ed the growing of flax, which is cut only once in four years. The tv the owners receive now is 12s 6d a ton whereas it had been 40s a ton. The land is not used for anything but flax growing, except to graze a few head of stock. It was also stated at the sitting of the Assessment Court that R was not- a place that- would sell if cut up into allotments as the risk of floods from the Manawatu river was too great. Last « year the total returns amounted to . ' ' £6,913 net. The land tax came to over £3,000, and the county and drainage taxes made up another £1,090. A FAIR- OFFER. In •"connection with the above we may state that a petition was circulated and signed by about 600 sig- —' natures some years ago praying the Government to acquire this and other properties for the purpose of closer settlement. 'lf our memory serves us correctly the Government officials reported against the purchase of the property. The member for the district, Mr Edward Newman, had charge of the petition and is familiar with the details. The point is that the owners of the estate have made a fair and equitable offer to the Government- and in our opinion the offer should not be turned down. It now remains for those who signed the petition to rethe question and make fresh representations to the Government for the acquisition of the estate. , We would suggest in the public interest Hint the Mayor convene a public meeting without Melay, at which _ member for the district should be invited to attend to discuss the matter and come to a decision now the way is open for ’’negotiations on v. hat must be admitted a fair basis. The close settlement of this land is of the utmost importance to Foxton’s prosperity.