NOT EXCESSIVE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21194, 17 August 1940, Page 9

NOT EXCESSIVE

BOROUGH VALUATIONS APPEALS AT TE AWAMUTU ASSESSMENT COURT RULINGS (Special to Times) TE AWAMUTU, Friday During the week a sitting of the Assessment Court was held at Te Awamutu, the president being Mr A. A. McLachlan (Christchurch), while Mr F. J. Bertram acted as borough assessor and Mr G. H. French, of Rotorua, acted as Government assessor. A large number of objections was lodged, Mr S. S. Preston appearing for many’, and several objectors appeared in person. Generally, Mr Preston considered that the new valuations of the business area were too high, iniquitous in fact, and after a number of appeals had been heard, he felt, he said, that in view of the Court’s attitude he would be compelled to withdraw many objections. The Court intimated that it could not alter the valuations of experienced officers unless convincing evidence was given that the valuations were unfair. At the second day of the sitting, the Court said that it had inspected some of the properties and considered that the valuer, Mr W. S. Gordon, and the Department, had made a thoroughly fair job of the revaluation of the borough. If anything, there was error on the conservative side. One hundred pounds a foot for the best properties in the business area would not be excessive.

Some values were fixed during the hearing but all of the others, including those of the principal business areas, were sustained.