Valuation of the Borough.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 221, 26 June 1902, Page 3

Valuation of the Borough.

A STRONG PROTEST. Vt tho Cmtucii liivo.iiig ou Monday a letter was read from Messrs E. Bannerraau, W. Edson, J. R. Clement, W. Manchester, W. Foweiaker, W. Petit, M. O’Rourke, G. Manchester and J. W. Hayes, as follows :

‘‘The memorialists had occasion to attend the sitting of the Assessment Court recently held to consider objections to the valuation of properties in the borough and submitted their observations. They said that the attitude and metho Js of the Court throughout convinced them that its purpose was far less to weigh the merits of the objections than to uphold the valuations, and the single word of the valuer was allowed to prevail against double testimony in opposition. The valuations were of a most inconsistent character, land a quarter of a mile from the main street being valuad as highly as that in Shearman street, a few chains back. In some cases lands ou opposite sides of the back streets were valued differently though no red difference in value could possibly exist. Then times a great pretence was ma le of value being enhanced by the amount of road frontage, but on hs being pointed out that oilier lands were at a disadvantage in this particular no lie..-a was paid to it. Thus one man whose Jann has a narrow frontage, was valued as high as other land in the neighbourhood with an extensive frontage and he was declared to be £3O richer (on paper, but without being a penny richer in pocket) than he had been, but being an old age pensioner loses £2 of his pension by it. Another showed that his Bastions were of lea* value than others near him owing to, natural defects in drainage, but he was declared to be £2O richer than he had been and loses £1 in h\s pension. The Act provided that the valuer appointed should be a person possessing local knowledge, but the spirit and letter of (hu Act had been violated in regard to Wairnate as the valuer was a stranger. The definitions of improvements and unimproved value contained in the Act for the foundation oi the Court's judgment appeared to b© entirely ignored. There was no ’ proper appeal allowed by the Act and such appeal as was allowed could only be availed of by wealthy men, as it was reserved tor tfio Supreme Court and on points of law only and if the President of the Court would give permission. It was manifest that public confidence could never be felt in a tribunal appointed to settle disputes between two parties where one party had the sole right of selecting and appointing the judges, fixing the amount of their remuneration and paying it, dismissing or continuing the judges in office at its pleasure and the other party could do nothing but submit, and that was the character of the Assessment Court. The memorialists sub- t mitted that it was the duty of the Council to endeavour to protect tiio ratepayers against unjust treatment and begged that they would consult with other local bodies on these points and endeavour to obtain an amendment of the law and an. equitable administration.

Is was (lociilod to hold the matter over till a better attended meeting.