THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, JULY 10, 1902.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 227, 10 July 1902, Page 2

THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, JULY 10, 1902.

GOVERNMENT VALUATIONS. Some time ago we called attention to the curious results of the Government Valuer’s efforts to compile a Valuation Roll for districts in Waimate, more particularly in regard to the Borough, and urged the County and Borough Councils to join with other local bodies in an effort to obtain the right to make their own valuations for the purposes of local taxation. By adopting the system of rating on unimproved value, as it is misnamed, the County and Borough lost the right to make their ow n valuations, and became bound to accept the valuation made by the Government for land tax purposes. So long as the Government valuation concerned only the wealthy, persons called on to pay land tax there was no need for newspapers or the general public to trouble themselves about the matter, as those directly affected were quite able to look to their own interests. When, however, as now, it concerns every individual landowner and lessee, no matter how small his holding, the matter assumes a different aspect, and because very many of those unfairly affected are, for obvious reasons, unable to help themselves, it becomes the duty of the newspapers, local bodies and all who can help in any way, to speak out, against the existing wiong.

At tl e last meetings of the Borongh and County Council's strong protests were lodged against the methods of the Valuation Department and of the Assessment Court. Practically no notice has so far been taken of our own criticii-ms or of the attempt of ratepayers to move the local powers that -be. Both councils have put the question off till a more convenient season, and so have missed. an excellent opportunity of joining with and strengthening the hands of olheis in forcing an impoitant question on the attention of ihe Government. We aie glad tv) notice that the question is a live one in other quarters and was given great promiin nee at the colonial conference of the NZ. Fanners’ s6fcffton in Wellington during the past few n’a\s. In contrast to the fr * fimliffen nee of ihc Waimate County Council as a body, its chairman, Mr J. F. Douglas, took a prominm! put at the conference in discussing the question of Givernmmt valuations, particularly in reference to what we in common with the ratepayers who memorialised the County and Borough Councils have pointed out, viz., the need for appointing local valuers. On this point it is interesting to observe that from all over the colony comes the complaint that the Government valuers in the different districts were men lacking local knowledge and that an objector had no chance of obtaining satisfaction from the Assessment Court. These are the very points on which our local memoralists were strongest in their protest, hut it seems to have escaped the notice of the speakers

at the conference, that the appointment of valuers who had not local knowledge was a violation of the letter and spirit of the Act. Had our loca 1 bodies given this matter the attention it deserved an I taken prompt action when it was brought so forcibly to their notice, we have no doubt the Farmers’ Union conference would have made the Waimate memorial the basis of

its action. Anyway, we are certain our local bodies have missed the chance of rendering very considerable assistance in ending what is really a public scandal.