VALUATION OF THE BOROUGH.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 10, 15 May 1912, Page 2

VALUATION OF THE BOROUGH.

Borough Council Discussion. At the tirst meeting of the Pukekohe Borough Council, a very interesting question cropped up about j Borough valuation. Ihe Mayor (Mr Dunn) pointed out that the Government. Valuer had recently been here, and had valued the old town area, saying there was no authority for valuing the p irt of the Road District which had been incorporated in the Borough. This would be bound to lead to anomalies, and the Council should decide whether it would be wise to wire to the Valuer General, asking to have the whole of the Borough revalued. Or Johns: We were valued last year, but there would no doubt be anomalies on account of the high values put on this year on properties contiguous to the boundaries. Cr Bilkey : Our land is now valued at £6O and £7O, and if it is going to be more because we are in the Borough it would have been better to have kept out of it. Cr Berriman said it meant that where some men had to give £1 a week in rates, they would have to pay £2 a week; that was the simplest way of putting it. It was too short a time in which to have another revaluation. Cr Pollock said most settlers thought that the rate last March was excessive, and it was certainly as high as they could stand. Cr Lawrie said the Valuer might think the valuation too high afready, and might reduce it. Councillors: Oh! the values never come down. Cr Bilkey pointed out that sales were taking place round his land, in two and three acre homesteads, at £IOO an acre; but they could not farm the laud at that price. This would mean cutting up, and if there were too much cutting up before the place was ready they would make a mess of it. The Mayor: Well, I don't think it right that we "should be at a lower rate than our friends in town. you can't farm land at £IOO an acre, then it has no right to ibe held for farming purposes. It should be cut up, and pay rates accordingly. These lauds should bear their responsibilities. But even if values were raised, that is not to say that the rates would be higher. It would be a matter of fixing the rate equitably. Anyway we are all one body, and we should all be treated alike. (Applause from the spectators and some of the Council). Cr Bilkey : It is not only the rates; we are hit with the Government land tax. That is the worst trouble. Cr Berriman reckoned the rates would be more than ouq could get in rent if th'e land were leased. Cr Comrie thought that' all parts of the Borough should have fair valuation. He would not personally be benefitted by having a new valuation, but he thought the revaluation should go right through He accordingly proposed that the Valuer General be asked to have the valuation made. Cr Lawrie seconded. All land he owned was outside the Town Board area, but he thought the revaluation should take place. Cr Hamilton was strongly opposed to the proposal Six months ago the land had been put up 50 per cent., and now they seemed to want another 50 per cent added. The position then would be that he would be paying the high rate while, say, his brother over the fence, with just as good dairying land as his (the speaker's) would be in the couutry, and escape. They did not expect when they were brought into the Borough to be treated like this. . For the motion: The Mayor, Crs Comrie, Liwrie, Johns, Hart. Against the motion : Crs Hamilton, Bilkey, Pollock, Berriman. The motion, asking for the revaluation, was therefore carried.