VALUATION OF LAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 154, 25 November 1914, Page 2

VALUATION OF LAND.

SITTING OF COMMISSION. By Telegraph.—Per Press Association. Wellington, Yesterday. The first sitting of the commission (consisting of Messrs. Thos. F. Martin, barrister, Wellington, chairman; Ewcn A. Campbell, fanner, Wanganui; and James (!. liutherford, farmer, Auckland) appointed by the Government to inquire into and report 011 certain matters relating to the valuation of land in Now Zealand, was held to-day. Only formal business was transacted. The commission is directed (1) to inquire into such cases of alleged excessive values as may be brought under its notice and report as to whether those values were assigned in accordance with the definitions of "unimproved value" and "value of improvements" in the Valuation of Land Amendment Act, 11112; (2) to consider whether the Assessment Court under the Valuation of Land Act is so constituted as to ensure equitable consideration of objections, and to recommend, if considered necessary or expedient, an alternative which will improve the composition of the Court, while at the same time preserving its judicial character; (3) to consider and report whether section 31 of the Valuation of Land Act, 1008, affords an owner who is not satisfied with the value of his land as fixed by Assessment Court an equitable alternative; (4) to report upon the methods of the Valuation Department in making valuations, and generally to make inquiry into any other matters which may come under the notice of the com-