LAND VALUATIONS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 181, 24 March 1932, Page 5

LAND VALUATIONS

("Post" Special Commissioner.)

SUGGESTED REVERSION TO 1913 BASIS IS NOT PRACTICABLE MEMBER QUESTIONS MINISTER

I WELLINGTON, Wednesday. In the House of Representatives today, Mr. W. H. Field (Government, Otaki), asked the Minister in Charge of the Valuation Department, the ! Hon. E. A. Ransom, when the Government proposes to make the long look-ed-for valuation of the lands of the Dominion so as to bring valuations, so far as rural lands are concerned, more into harmony with the eurrent prices of farm products, and whether, if it considered that a re-valuation would take too long and be too expensive, the valuation of 1913 could he reverted to.

"It was well known that very many farmers, under present conditions, were wholly "unable to pay the land taxation demanded of them," Mr Ransom replied. During the last three years thirty-seven coupties had been revaiued and the work was proceeding continuously. "Valuations do not rise or fall equally in all districts," said the Minister. Since 1913 the pereentage inerease in valuations is giteater in borough and town districts than in counties and if the 1913 valuations were reverted to as suggested by the [ hon. member, a greater proportion of [ hospital rates would have to "be born by rural lands." He said the proposal wquld also necessitate alterations in the valuations of properties of qver five hundred thousand ratepayers, of whom only ahout 10 per cent. are land tax payers, and whose liability for land tax has already been reduced under the Land and Income Tax Act, 1931 by an average of over 40 per cent.