ASSESSMENT COURTS. — WHAT ARE THEY ?

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1197, 28 February 1880, Page 3

ASSESSMENT COURTS. — WHAT ARE THEY ?

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — Can you or .any of your readers inform me what an Assessment Court is Y and what are its functions. I had a hazy idea it was a Court of enquiry, or Arbitration Court, appointed by the Legislature, to enable ratepayers to object, if they thought fit, to an excessive rate or otherwise, and that the Judge of said Court was an umpire to decide between the ratepayers and the vainer. From my experience of Wednesday, I find my ideas on the matter were altogether wrong. To the best of my knowledge, one Judge, one Magistrate's clerk, two lawyers, one policeman, and sundry private individuals, including myself, drove, rode, or tramped from Hamilton to Mr Johnson's farm, the appointed place for holding said Assessment Court, on February 25th. For what ? simply to pick to pieces a poor unfortunate appeal of mine against excessive rates ; ' date om- . itted ; fatal to objection." So like the King" of France, we marched up the hill and then marched down again, sadder, but not wiser men. Are these Courts held to award prizes or otherwise to good little boys, who dot their I's and cross T's, or fill in dates (should I or any one else escape the the clutches of the law or police, through a slight clerical error or omission in the information) or are they apappointed for the benefit of unscrupulous valuators, who are generally collectors, and so interested parties in levying an excessive rate ? Whatever the intention of the Legislature in establishing these Courts, my limited experience teaches me that, as they are conducted in this district, it must be for one of the above objects. But I seek enlightenment. — I am, &c, Thomas Jolly. Hamilton, Feb. 27th, 1880.