asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he intends to postpone the rating revaluation due in 1968.

The Government have decided with regret that, in view of the shortage of valuers and the increasing commitments of the Valuation Office, it will be necessary to abandon the quinquennial revaluation due in 1968.Legislation for this purpose will be included in the local government finance Bill to be introduced early next year. At the same time the House will be asked, in the interests of fairness among ratepayers, to give statutory recognition to the established practice whereby new or amended assessments made during the currency of a valuation list are on the basis of "tone of the list". This will apply to all alterations in pursuance of proposals made after today.