Objections to Valuation.

Patea Mail, 25 February 1882, Page 3

Objections to Valuation.

Rai’bpayehs have been put in a flutter by the distribution of nearly four hundred notices of objection to the valuation of properties in Patea borough. We hear complaints that the notices have caused trouble and loss of time which might have been avoided ; and the Town Clerk would have been less worried also if the notices contained the new valuation which will be claimed in Court, as against the valuation which is objected to as being too low. Ratepayers could have been saved the trouble of going to the office for further information, if the proposed new valuation were stated on each notice ; and most of them would probably accept the new valuation. This view of the matter appears reasonable.

The Roll must need revising a good deal, when two-thirds of the whole valuations are objected to by a committee of the Council. If these objections or most of them be sustained in Court next Tuesday, there will not be much of the Roll remaining. Any one can see that many values are manifestly too low. The date for sending in objections to the Valuation Roll expired on the 15th. The Council have notified objections to about 350 values. The valuator has himself lodged objections in Court to nine values, apparently to correct errors brought to his notice since making up the Roll; but his objections are, strangely enough, made in an informal manner, for we learn by enquiry to-day that he has not complied with the notice requiring copies of objections to be left at the Borough Council office. It is too late to leave copies now.

The Town Clerk has lodged eleven objections, being owners and properties omitted from the Roll. He has also lodged the other objections on behalf of the Council to low valuations. Only one objection is lodged by a ratepayer. Where values err on the side of being too low, the owners cannot be expected to object, A proper valuation, however, should do justice all round. A certain sum has to be raised in rates, and if the total valuation be fair and moderate, the rate will be moderate ; whereas a low valuation requires a high rate to raise the necessary total for expenditure on local public w T orks, The local rate has averaged 9d for the town and fid for the county. A shilling rate is now proposed, in lieu of both the old rates, so that at the same valuation the rating will be 8d in the pound less than before.