BOROUGH VALUATIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 255, 18 March 1913, Page 4

BOROUGH VALUATIONS.

MEETING 01- OBJECTORS. ' Between thirty and forty persons attended a meeting in the Town Hall last evening of objectors Lo the assessor's' new valuations in the borough. .Mr. C. Carter was voted to the chair, and in introducing the subject said that there had been about- IJOu objections lodged against the valuations. The purpose of the meeting was to decide whether tlie objectors should take united action in seeking relief at the court or move indirectly in the matter. If they expected to be successful in their opposition they must take a united stand, and take step's to gather as much evidence as possible, in order to put a cpnvincing ease before the Court. It was no use going to the Borough Council and asking it to reduce the general ■'rate, because in another year's time the same councillors might not be in ofnce\when the rate was levied. That wuld not be a fair position to put the Council in. The speaker remarked that it had been said that the valuer's instructions were to increase the valuations. He had gone £o the fountain-head, however, and found out that, the statement could not be sustained. The increased valuations would not apply to the special loan, but particularly to the general rate. The suburban ratepayers, in particular, thought they had cause for a grievance. When they were asked to come into the borough, an inducement was held out that their rates would be less than if they still remained outside. In consequence it was a little disappointing to these people, wh® had so willingly come into the borough, that their rates were to be seriously increased. Some of the ratepayers, in a sense, felt that they had been misled by statements made' by the Council, which, body, however, was not responsible for the amount of the valuations. Concluding, Mr. Carter trusted that no reflection would be made on either tlje borough valuator or the Council. The meeting was simply called to arrange for expert evidence to make the objectors' position strong. In endorsing Mr. Carter's remarks, Mr. H. Goodacre moved that the meeting take united action in resisting the proposed rateable values of their respective properties, and take steps to contest the valuations inthe'Assa'dSrricnt Court. In' pointing out that many of the valuations were absurdly high, the speaker said that they would tend to keep prospective ratepayers out of the district. He instanced the oase of one man whose property had been valued to the extent of 12s a week, whereas as a matter of fact it was only fetching its owner a return of 9s per week. , The owner, who lived out of New Plymouth, had written to him (Mr. Goodaerc) to the effect that he would sooner sell the property than retain ownership if the valuation was to hold. Mr. Goodacre also cited the case of a tract of grazing land which he himself owned, stating that in order to pay the increased rates consequent on the new valuation he would have to. receive a return of 4s 6d . per week for each horse depastured thereon. His neighbors, as a matter of fact, grazed horses at the rate of Is 6(| per head.

The motion was seconded and mar* ' vied.

The meeting also decided to arrange for the appointment pf valuators of the properties to the, valuations of which objections had been raised, arid to make arrangements for counsel (when requested) to represent the objectors at the Assessment Court. A committee, comprising the chairman, secretary, treasurer and seven other members (with power to add to their number) was set up to see the whole matter through. In order to provide the necessary funds it was decided to ask each objector to contribute ss, and that if further funds are required a levy be made In proportion to the rateable value of the property of each objector.

A subscription list was onened in the room, practically every objector present contributing.