LAND VALUATION.

Shannon News, 22 November 1921, Page 3

LAND VALUATION.

* SYSTEM CRITICISED

“That this branch is of the.opinion that the present form of valuation is inequitable, and • asks that the ; Provincial 'Executive shall go into the matter.”—This remit from the Palmerston North branch to the Manawatu sub-provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union came in .for considerable discussion by the -latter body on Saturday. It was common talk in his district, .remarked Mr Tully (Levin), that the valuations were carried out on the roads and in the towns. With die,data the officers of the Valuation Department had before them they could just as easily value as they were doing from their head office. This contention was agreed with by Mr Brook-Taylor (RangiotuL who said that- though his .valuation had been increased, no officer had ever been on his property, and the same thing applied to his neighbours. A unirorm system of valuation for the whole Dominion, to operate over five to ten years, was advocated by Mr J. A. McLeavey -(-Palmerston North). The valuation should be set at a given period a,nd increased decreased according to the financial position of the country and the prices being received for primary products. It. was not necessary to have an army, of valuers travelling round the country.

Mr O. P. Lynch/contended that the Domsday Book system introduced by Sir George Grey should be reverted to. He went on to say that if they were going to value on improvements, the valuers should certainly call on the owner of the property and more than that give notice of its com. ing. The valuation of his own property had been written down considerably because the valuer considered he had too many buildings on the place.

It. was decided to forward the remit to the Provincial Executive for consideration.—Times. “New Zealand Business and Industries” is the title of a new journal to, he issued monthly as the official organ of -the manufacturers of the The first number, which has just reached us, specially features the industrial exhibition re cently held., at Wellington, Where there was a quite remarkable display of goods manufactured in the'Dominion. It is often said that there is a strong prejudice against New Zealand goods among New Zealanders, but we should “ say that there .is ignorance rather than prejudice, ignorance of the fact that goods of such great variety and excellence are manufactured in the Dominion. Manufacturers are too apt to hide their lights under a bushel. They seldom have their wares exhibited as New Zealand productions and they do not sufficiently advertise them. This new journal has set itself the task; of encouraging the patronage of local industries by consumers and also of exhorting the manufacturer to greater efficiency. The initial nutnber is well written, excellently designed, and generally a credit to the printers and publishers.