Land Tax Troubles Of Waite Farmers

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7282, 9 October 1933, Page 3

Land Tax Troubles Of Waite Farmers

ASSESSED ON OLD VALUATIONS PROTEST MEETING HELD Land owners in the Ongo and Waituna county met at the Waituna hall on Saturday night to voice a protest against having t.o pay land tax on the old valuations while the other ridings in .the county were being assessed ou the new valuations which were much lower.

Mr. L. T, McLean, chairman of the Kiwitea County Council, presided over a representative gathering and explained the position, regardng the revaluation of the county. He stated that early last year the County Council was asked by the Valuation Department whether it would agree to have the whole county revalued. The council agreed, and Mr. McLean read to the meeting a letter scut by tho council on June 4, 1932, in which it set'out that it agreed to the proposal of the Valuation Department provided work would be completed by March 31, 1933. lo enable llio new valuations to operate from April 1 last, Tho department proceeded with the work and the council assumed, that in. doing so, the understanding was that the work was to be completed by March 31. All the ridings had been completed with the exception of Ongo and Waituna., and were being assessed for land tax purposes on the new valuations, Both the Ongo and Waituna ridings, however, were being assessed on the old valuations and land owners felt that they were suffering ag injustice. The chairman explained t|at for rating purposes the whole of the county was being assessed on the new valuations and the desire was to get the Land Tax Department to include the Ongo and Waituna ridings under the new valuations. In many cases the difference in the valuations, between lhe old and new, was very considerable and land owners desired their case to be represented to the Minister in charge. The following resolution was carried unanimously: “That the Kiwitea County Council be asked to take the question up and that a deputation comprising Messrs L. T. McLean, J. A. Williamson and N. Shannon, wait on the Minister to represent the case of the land owners in the Ongo and Waituna ridings.’’