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Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 258, 12 March 1898, Page 2

In reference to the adoption of the system of rating on unimproved value, we strougly recommend that all action in this direction thould be stayed until the valuations recently made have been confirmed or adjusted. There will then be some reliable data to go upon. Those who advocate the principle are no doubt under the impression that the valuations will be uniform, and that taxation on their basis would in consequence be equitable. As a matter of fact, however, this is not the case. We have had an opportuuity of seeing one or two of these rolls ; in one district the valuations ranged from 3s 4d per acre to £5 Is Gd. On one side of a road land is valued at £4 15s, and on the other side at £2 4s 2d. In another place a farm is valued at 20s ; on the other side of a fence the value is put at 10s, and our informant, who should be a good judge, states that the 10s laud is the better. As all are aware, when the valuator appeared on the scene the first question he asked was what valuation the owner put upon his holding. If the owner's estimate was a high one, it has in every case been accepted, most probably under instructions from the Government, This means that owners who arc anxious to sell have been willing to submit to the consequent additioual taxation in order to improve their chance of selling. The dodge would be likely to deceive the uninitiated, who would naturally suppose that a Government valuation would be based on a more solid foundation than the interested estimate of the owner. Then again those who have borrowed under the Loans to Settlers Act are, if only for consistency sake, compelled to endorse the valuation under which they borrowed. Those who contemplate borrowing are equally interested in having a high valuation phced upou their property, as from ic the amount advancable will be calculated. There will be some very funny scenes when the Assessment Court sits.