BLACKBERRY-INFESTED FARMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 215, 1 April 1913, Page 2

BLACKBERRY-INFESTED FARMS.

EFFECT OX VALUATIONS. Recently the Taraimki County Council brought under the notice of the Valuer-General (Mr. F. W. Flanagan) special instances of what is termed unreliable valuations of properties in the area formerly known as the Mangorei Road District. Jn his. reply to the Councif, the Valuer-General states: These properties are' more or less overrun with blackberry, and consequently depreciated in value on that account.' \ I decided to visit the district and ascer- ) tain for my own satisfaction: (1) The j area and configuration of black-berry iuj fested country: (2) what steps have been taken by the farmers to eradicate blackberry; (3) to what extent the land had deteriorated owing to blackberry; and (4) whether the District Valuer, in revising the Mangorei Road District last year, had assessed the market values of the land in that district at prices below what are fair and reasonable." Continuing, Mr. Flanagan states that he visited a number of the properties on < March 19, and after making a careful estimate formed the opinion that the District Valuer had erred on the side of too extreme caution in assessing the unimproved value and value of improvements. He was influenced—and rightly so—by the evidence of the neglect to systematically eradicate blackberry and by the inevitable depreciation in land values which was the consequence of that neglect; but lie over-estimated the per acre of eradicating the weed, and did not accord due weight to the fact that the settlers had already expended labor and capital in clearing their lands.

TO COPE WITH THE PKST. The writer's own opinion was that, the configuration and condition of the Mangorei country imposed no great obstacle to the eradication of the hlacklieny if the settlers set to work in a systematic manner. The farms for the most part were comparatively small, and could lie practically cleared' of the weed in four years at an average cost of about £1 per acre. He knew what a financial strain the work imposed on small farmers, especially on those who experienced the heart-breaking task of attempting to clear their lands while thenneighbors made little or no effort to do their duty in that respect. A consideration of that nature, however, could not enter into an assessment, nor could such consideration as the effect which reduced values might have on the securities pledged by public bodies or parivate individuals be regarded as a reason for maintaining values. It was incumbent on mortgagors to prevent, as far as lay in their power, the depreciation of value of these securities, if values declined owing to the spread of noxious weeds, then the mortgagors were responsible for the, fall, and must take Ihe consequences. They had the remedy in their own haii(|s. lie had arranged with the TVisirict Valuer to make a reassessment of those properties which he considered had been undervalued, liecuuse he llhe writer) considered equity justified that course of action. The new values would be communicated to the Council in duo course, and would take effect from "March .11. Concluding. "Mr. Flanagan stated that so long si* blackberry was permitted to spread over nroocrlies there was no doubt but thai, the lendii'T department of Ihe Covernment would "turn down"' nil applications for loans on the security of such properties.