Land Valuation.

Manawatu Standard, Issue 42, 20 January 1885, Page 2

Land Valuation.

Mjr'iTv F. Pjfth, m a letter to the Pall Nail Gazette of /a recent date, directs attention to the system adopted iir ; sohie parts of ' Ainerrfla-' wHh'riigard to the rating of land, situated m boroughs, His remarks may offer a useful hiiit to. borough valuers as to the true valuation of unoccupied . sections . lu-ld for speculative or luxurious purposes. Mr Firth says: "Lougfello'w somewhere Hpeaks of the view from his windows over a mea-i dow towards a river. 'Some years ago; ■ this meadow was rated at its agricultural value, but as tha neighbouring town extended jt began to, have a building land value.. As the town increased this building value increased, nrttil. E believe he paid spiuetliing like £200 a'year m rates oh this field 1 nlone. He'preferred, • to- keep- it'opeu forthe sake' of thfe r view; but tin-, luxury had to'>-.l»e paid for at v ' rate computed upon its full sale value fur, any purpose. Idp not advocate the adoption of" any such system here,' but tlio.practica! workifig of it should he pn'-' ; Quired : into ; 'before ' aiiy new method of assessitient for ''taxation 13 a^6pted. i There is much to bo ;said iv itsjfavour ; inpon : eqy,vtabie .gipundSi; , : bu j; i: p»; the 1 , other h.aud, the.-establishinept of such a system .here; would .produce a .complete ; - 'bbuleversemcnt of our English land system. It would briug t6 ; a rapid'conclusion our system of large landed estates, {wjh'cth'er m town •or country. I often wonder that those who agitate for l the limitation of large holdings of laud, have never directed their operations on this line," ■••■;.>.,.■••>_. • ),'•■•