TAX EXEMPTIONS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 269, 24 August 1945, Page 4

TAX EXEMPTIONS.

QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE, (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 23. A question about tax exemptions on the salaries ol’ trade union secretaries was asked in the House of Representatives to-day. It was answered in part by a private member and by the Minister of Finance the (Hon. W. Nash). Mr A. S. Sutherland (Opposition, Hauraki) gave notice to ask the Minister of Finance if he would advise the House whether it was correct that secretaries of trade unions had been informed that half their remuneration could be regarded as expenses, and .therefore exempt from social security, national security, and income taxes, and if so, would he instruct the Commissioner of Taxes to allow some deduction in the case of secretaries of similar organisations. Miss M. B. Howard (Government, Christchurch East): I’ll reply to that now. No. , . Mr Sutherland, continuing with lus question, asked if the Minister was aware that the Commissioner of Taxes had ruled that for the purpose of income tax assessment trade unions should be regarded as friendly societies, and their funds exempted from taxation, and, if so, would the Minister instruct that the same concession be extended to other organisations of a like nature. Mr Nash said he could answer the first part of the question at once. It was not correct. Opposition me&bers: What about the second half? The Minister said that could go on the order paper.