619
Arrangements for Rating had for some time been considered, but fell to be unsatisfactory. After careful consideration, I was decided about to abandon the plan of Valuation done in spare time years ago, getting by Government Officer engaged in other duties, and to obtain a skilled Valuer from England. A properly equipped Valuation Branch was organised and attached to the Treasury. After some initial difficulties, the result has been unmistakable. Revenue has been materially increased, and the pressure of rates on the poorer classes has been relieved by a more equitable distribution of rating.
The expenses of the Valuation Office have been defrayed many times over by fines imposed on Chinese Owners of property for falsifications of their returns. The system by which the Government had been most seriously defrauded during many years was entirely broken. I believe the Governor was entirely with me on this matter. My anxiety as to the present position of affairs arises from the fact that when I absented myself, the late Valuer resigned his post. The only two members of the Executive Council who had ever paid any attention to the actual book on Rating, namely, myself and another, were both absent from the Colony.
I fear that representations may (with the best intentions, and in the best of faith) have been made to his Excellency to the effect that, the Rating having been got into proper, and, as it was imagined, final, order by Mr. Drooper, it might now be carried on by any person of common sense and intelligence. Such representations, together with a desire to reduce expenditure, and possibly to secure promotion for some deserving officer, may have induced a belief that a return to the amateur Valuation would not involve serious detriment to the Revenues.
But such a step would, under any circumstances, be undesirable, and at the present time, when commercial expansion and development are taking place, it would be deplorable. I therefore venture to ask from your Lordships an opportunity of reporting on this question, with a view to tendering my advice.
619
Arra
Rating
had for
Do
been
fell to be unsatisfactory. After careful
three
Concederation, I was decided, abou
to abandon the plan of Valuation done in
epare time
years ago.
getting by
Government Officer engaged in
other duties, and to obtain a skilled
Valuer from England. A peroperly equipped balciation Branch.
organiser
anised and
attache of
to the
Beasury. After some initial
difficulties, the result has been and
Ke Revenue
unmistakable purexs.
The Colony has been materially increased, D
pressure of
low of a
Qubstantial reduction
in the Accesment has relieved the
rates on the poorer classes, more equitable distribution of rating has been decured. The
of
The Valuation effice have been defrayed many times
in fact the total cart for the fines year dras more than mes by fines
mereaved Oxpences
Over,
imposed
don
Chinese Owners
of
property for falsifications of their
Veturns, Q
system by which the
Government had been most feriously defrauded duri
during
Many
I believe des Bucelleniy
he
Governan
was entirely with one on this Matter. My anciely as to the present position of affairs arises from the fast
that
that when I absoper. The late baluer, designed his feast. The only ties trember The Executive Council who had ever paid any
attention to the actical book
In Price, namely, and were both, absent from the
Rating
Kryself!
Colony. I fear that representations may
(Ith the best intentions, and in the
Me
Rating
best of faith) have been made to his Excellency
to the effect that, sextoon having
As it tuould bo
been got into prod, and,
imagined, final, order
Rente)
by Mr Drooper, it might now be carried on by any person of Common & delegente
Such representations,
together with a dexing to reduce expenditure, and possibly to secure promotion for Rome deserving officer, may have
induced a
system of
belief that a return to the
ama tour Volecation would. Got involve serious detriment to the
Revenues.
ope
exper
Such an
now, be un
4x
desirable) under any
But gues at the present Mongkong
Creumalänces. time, when
Commenung
احدة
L
ao
bebe ve
period
7
bravke d
A wowed.
Q
venture to
expansion and development be deplorable. If therefore,
ack from your Lordships an opportunity
on this question, it is only
tendering
of reporting
With a view
f
The advice of
Bhould
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