7. The number of whole tenements reported vacant averaged 1,329 monthly, as compared with 1,100 last year. This is the greatest number of vacant tenements ever reported. The high number of vacancies is due to the overbuilding in recent years followed by the depression.
8. By order of His Excellency the Governor in Council, under Ordinance No. 3 of 1926, refunds of rates were granted for vacant floors of tenements, having regard to the allowances for partial vacancy already made in the assessments, for the first and second quarters of 1935. The number of vacant floors notified under this order during the first quarter of 1935 amounted to 2,201. These are additional to the vacancies of whole tenements referred to in paragraph 7.
The total number of inspections of vacant tenements and floors for the month of April was 3,551.
9. In December it was decided by Government that for the new assessment, coming into force on July 1st 1935, owners should be given the opportunity, during the first three weeks of January, of electing to have refund of rates for vacant floors throughout the coming rating year, where they so desired. Owners have so elected in the case of some 5,000 Chinese tenements, and as a result, over 10,000 additional assessments have to be made, an increase of over 33 per cent.
10. During the year ending 30th April, 1935, 1,792 Interim Valuations, as compared with 3,211 in the previous year, were made as follows:
CITY OF VICTORIA REST OF COLONY No. Rateable Value No. Rateable Value New or rebuilt tenements and tenements structurally altered 432 $650,502 724 $520,103 Assessments cancelled, tenements resumed, pulled down or being in other respects not rateable 307 $589,664 329 $265,338 Number and Increase 739 $60,838 1,053 $254,765