URBAN FARM LANDS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 381, 16 November 1932, Page 5

URBAN FARM LANDS

("Post" Special Coihmissioiier) • »

A new measure PROVISION FOR SETTING UP ASSESSMENT COURTS IN BOROUGHS PREVIOtJS BILL AMENDED

Wellington, Tuesday. important changes have been made : in the Ui'ban Farhx Lands Rating Bill introduced into the House of' Representatives to-day hy Governor-Gen-eral's message,' compared with the xneasure which was introduced ih 1929 but not proceeded with. The provis- ' ions of the original bill in reference to the .classification of land have been deleted. , The bill introduced to-day provides that the oceupier of a pieee of urban farm land containing not less than three acres which is liable tp he rated separately hy the council, may* apply to the council for a preparation of -farm land list for the borough.( The Procedure On receipt of the application, the council shall prepare a farm land list which is to contain partieulars of (a) all pieces of urban farnx' land containing not less than three acres which are liable to he rated separately by the council and (b) all pdeces of urban farm land containing less than three acres which are liable to Be rated separately by the council. It will he for the council to decide whether or not the rateable value of oroperties ineluded in the farfn land :i*t should be reduced after taking into consideration the following specific matters (a) whether the rqtes payable by the oceupier are exeessive or xnduly burdensome, (b) the municipal services available to the property; (c) the incidence of special and separate rates in the borough and of rates levied by or on -behalf of rating authorities other than the council, (d.) whether any reduction would be likely to impose an undue burden of rates on the other ratepayers of the borough or any of them and (>e) any alteration in x'ateable value since the valuation roll came into force. Assessment Courts The bill proposes to set up Assessment Courts in each borough for the purpose of hearing and determining objeetions. The magistrate exereis- : ing jurisdiction in the bprough is to be Ihe judge of the court and there are to be two assessors, one appointed on the recommendation of the council and the other on the recommendation of the Minister of Internal Affaix*s. After hearing objeetions, the court may alter the farnx land list which will then become the farm land roll for the district. The occupiers of any piece of urban farm land containing less than three acres which is liable to he rated separately by the council, are to have the right to apply to the council for a reduction. It will th'en be fior the council to decide whether or not the rateable value of the land should be reduced. Objeetions are to he heard by the magistrate who is to have all the powers of the assessment court.