8.—17b

136

Receipts for Taxes. Section 94 is amended so as to require every Collector of Taxes to deliver tax receipts by mail, upon request. (Chapter 483.) Real Property purchased at a Tax Sale by any County. Subdivision 2 of section 50 is made to apply to all the counties in the state instead of to those counties only which have a certain population. It provides that real property bought by the, county at a tax sale shall bo excluded from the tax rolls. (Chapter 397.) Transfer Offices of Corporations must be registered, with the Comptroller. Section 275 a, which was enacted in 1913, and. designed to require every corporation to register its transfer office, has been further amended to make the intent perfectly clear. Every corporation which transfers its owii stock must be registered with the Comptroller's office where its stock is transferred. Every person, firm, or corporation engaged in negotiating sales of stock must register its office. (Chapter 206.) Refunding of Mortgage Taxes erroneously paid. Section 263 is amended to provide the procedure for refunding mortgage taxes erroneously collected. (Chapter 398.) Tax Bills having only a Local Application. Section 261 is amended to require the Treasurer of Bronx County to pay mortgage-tax moneys to the City Chamberlain in the same manner as the treasurers of other counties within the City of New York. (Chapter 399.) Section 150 adds Suffolk County to those counties which need not sell land for unpaid taxes until the taxes, with interest, amount to $2 - 00. Section 21b is amended to include Herkimer County with Suffolk County as a county in which, under certain circumstances, assessors are required to apportion tracts of land into several parcels. (Chapter 484.) Section 184 is amended so as to exempt from the State tax upon gross earnings ferry companies operating between, any of the boroughs of the City of New York under a lease granted by the city. (Chapter 334.) Decision of Commission. Pages 91 to 106 (inclusive) from copy of " Report of Commissioners of Taxes and Assessments of New York " to he printed in Commission's report. Recommended for consideration of Valuation Department for application to cities only. 21/1/15.

APPENDIX XIV. Letter from Valuer-General. Re Mr. Laing, of Brooklyn. The Secretary, Valuation of Land Commission, Wellington. I have received from Mr. District Valuer Morgan the accompanying memorandum, commenting on statements made by Mr. Laing, of Brooklyn, during the course of his evidence volunteered to the Valuation of Land Commission during their sitting at Otahuhu. F. W. Flanagan, Valuer-General. Valuation Department, Wellington, 9th January, 1915. Report prom District Valuer Morgan. Re Valuation of Land Commission. The Officer in Charge, Valuation Office. Mr. Laino, of Brooklyn, in giving evidence before the Commission, stated that his mother's property to which he had objected to the value was worth £6 per acre—.£3 per acre for the land and £3 per acre for improvements : total of £4,480 for 747 acres. I find in looking up the papers that his estimate of value at the time of objection, which was for the, term 31/3/J4, was as follows: 747 acres-—Unimproved value, £1,494; improvements, £1,494: capital value, £2,988. This is £1,492 less than his estimate before the Commission. The «reat discrepancy between the two estimates is another evidence of the unreliable statements that are made on matters of land-valuation, showing that if it, suits their purpose there are some who can vary their estimates to an. astonishing degree. ,My estimate of value is £6,500, £5,250, £1,250 ; Mr. Lang's last, estimate—£4,4Bo, £2,240, £2,240 ; Mi. Lang's previous estimate—£2,9BB, £1,491, £1,494. Another step forward, and he may reach the higher figures. Will you please forward this on. Auckland, 2/4/15. Edward Morgan, District Valuer,