HAWERA LAND VALUES.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 August 1920, Page 4

HAWERA LAND VALUES.

DECLARED TO BE TOO HIGH. The excessive valuation of the Haweia county, as disclosed under the new valuation, was. strongly commented on by the chairman of the County Council (Mr. J. B. Murdoch) at the meeting on Saturday. As a result of the re-valuation, he said, the valuation of the Hawera County had gone up 07 per cent., whereas Walmate, though valued a year later, bad only gone up 33. per cent. He gaVe instances where, land in the Hawera County was valued at £BO, while land in the Wairaate County, which Was of better quality, was valued at £53. These valuations, he contended, were an injustice to their ratepayers, not so much from the point of view of local taxation, aa from general taxation, and he thought the Council should make a strong protest ,fo' have their valuation reduced; Mr. Murdoch said he had already put tl)e matter before the Valuation Department and Messrs Smith and Masters, M.P.'e, and intended to follow it up so as to get redress. The valuation had, he said, been made by different men. In further remarks, he deprecated the tendency to base their valuations on the value of the buildings. Productive improvements should certainly be valued, but less stress should be placed oil new; productive improvements. The matter of a deputation to wait on the Department and Minister was left in the hands of the chairman to arrange, if considered necessary.