South Canterbury Times. THURSDAY, JAN. 22, 1880.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2132, 22 January 1880, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. THURSDAY, JAN. 22, 1880.

The system so generally indulged in by local governing bodies of letting everything, from the construction of a culvert or wheel-barrow to the compilation of a rate roll, by public tender,' does not always work satisfactorily. The fact that there arc exceptions to the economic rule of preferring cheapness to quality has just received a powerful illustration in this neighborhood. As most of our readers arc probably aware, the Levels Road Board recently invited applications for the preparation of their annual rateroll. Owing to the exceptional state of the labor market they received a large number of Air F. W. Stubbs, the former valuer, whose services had given the utmost satisfaction to Road Board and ratepayers for'five years, offered to prepare the rolls and serve the requisite notices for £240, or about £4O less than he received on previous occasions. A number of tenders, considerably under this figure, were received however, and one of these—that of Mr John Macdonald—was accepted. The estimate placed by Air Atacdonald on the value of the work was just half .the sum demanded by Air Stubbs, and as the cheaper man was well recommended the members of the Eoad Board vciy naturally supposed that by changing their valuer they were effecting a considerable saving in their working expenses. So far everything seemed satisfactory. Having invited tenders the Board could hardly be blamed for accepting a cheap in preference to what seemed a dear one, and on the presumption that he needed something to do, Mr Macdonald could hardly be censured for offering his services.

But, mark (lie sequel! The valuation lists prepared by the new valuer were presented at the meeting of the Board the other day. The members had no time to inspect them. There was a considerable falling off in the total as compared with last year, but this neither produced surprise nor dissatisfaction. On the contrary, some of the members suggested that the reduction was reasonable and could be attributed to thejjdecline in the value of property that had followed recent Government taxation. Since the meeting of the Board, the valuation lists have been open to the inspection of the ratepayers, and we have taken the trouble to examine them. As the result, we are able to assure the ratepayers of the Levels Hoad District that if they allow the present valuation to pass unchallenged, their dreams of security will have a rude awakening when the tax-collector makes his round. In several important respects the lists arc curiosities, and we can conceive the surprise in store for the Judge of the Assessment Court should he have the opportunity of overhauling them. From beginning to end the new lists can only, be designated a “ comedy of errors.’ Not only has the work of valuation been done in an evidently slovenly and imperfect manner, but there arc blunders of omission and commission which inefficiency or carelessness can hardly account for. While the large landowners ami wealthy ratepayers have had substantial reductions made in the annual value of their properties, the owners and occupiers of small sections are almost uniformly made to smart. Mr Macdonald, whether accidentally or intentionally, has greased the fatted pig with a vengeance, but lie has made the cottager suffer. This, jierhaps, may arise from a want of discrimination, just as his transmogrification of names and designations may be due to a sadly imperfect acquaintance with modern spelling books, but we confess we are doubtful. At all events, apart from the way in which people’s names have been tortured, Maynard, for instance, being converted into Mainyard, Seaward into Seaweed, and Sutter to Suiter, he has given a very small minority reason to feel happy, and the great majority of the ratepayers have substantial cause for complaint. We know not what the occupier whose trade and occupation is designated “a widow” will think, or what the owner who follows the employment of “ a lady ” will say, or what the professional “wife” will imagine, but we feel satisfied that there are many poor widow and batchelor ratepayers who will give the new valuer a somewhat qualified blessing should his valuation be sustained.

To descend to particulars. The valuation of the district for the year is £70,355, as compared with £77,351 for 1879, being a falling off of £7,000. Supposing the rate struck is Is in the £ —the same as last year — the loss to the revenue, including the Government subsidy, will be £7O0 — rather a high figure to pay for a saving of £l2O in the valuers charges. If the reduction was fairly distributed and £lO per cent taken off the former valuation in each instance the cause for complaint would be greatly diminished, but the extraordinary rule appears to have been followed of increasing the valuation where a decrease might have been justified, and vice versa, For instance the Seadown estate which has been cut up and considerably improved since last year has been reduced from £4,538 to £3,547 or 25 per cent, and the Hew Zealand and Australian Land Company’s Levels estate has been

reduced from £10,608 to £12,102, while, on the other hand, small settlers like Alessrs Shears, Acton, F. W. Hall, ami Sims have had their valuations raised from £SO, £522, £os,and £7O, to £SOO, £577, £125, and £llO respectively. On one side we find the palatial residence of Mr Arthur Perry, solicitor, reduced from £357 to r £loo, and the mansion of Judge -Ward reduced from £125 to £75, while the cottage of widow Campbell and the paddocks and residences of other ratepayers of the poorer order have been suddenly raised in value. Then there are numerous well-to-do ratepayers, like Mr J. AV. AVhite, Avhose properties have been mercifully omitted from the roll altogether. In another column we publish a list showing the kind of discrimination that has been exercised by the valuer, and we imagine it will astonish a few ratepayers as well as the members of the Board. . If so, wo can assure them that if they take the trouble we have done and inspect the lists for themselves, they will find that other surprises are in store for them, and that we have merely culled a few gems from an elaborate nosegay, which Air Alacdonald may feel proud of, but for which we feel satisfied the congratulations he will receive, will lie somewhat back-handed. The question arises what should he done? It is unfair we submit that poor ratepayers should he compelled to object and put to the trouble and loss of attending the Revision Court at AVashdykc merely to save a matter 10s or 15s, and all through a manifestly unjust valuation. It is equally unfair that in consequence of unwarrantable deductions on large estates which are daily being improved, the public revenue of the district should suffer to the extent of nearly £IOOO. We submit that it is the duty of the Alembers of the Board to stand between the ratepayers and the valuer in a case so flagrant as this, and we trust they will lose no time in convening a special meeting and consulting legal opinion for the purpose of getting out of the unpleasant fix in which their new valuer has placed them.