WEST COAST NOTES

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17811, 10 July 1923, Page 4

WEST COAST NOTES

FAILURE TO SUPPLY I RETURNS. (SPECIAL TO "THE PEISS.") GREYMOUTH, July 9. The Taxation Department intends to deal strictly with any laxity or breach in connexion with the Laud and Income Tax Act judging by a case which came before Mr W. Meldrum, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court to-day. Stratford Blair and Co., sawmillers, were charged with failing to render to the Commissioner of Taxes a return of their assessable land tax as provided by section 141 of the Act, under which tue maximum penalty is £IOO and the minimum £2. Mr I<\ A. Kitchingham, Crown solicitor, appeared for the Department. Mr A. 11. Paterson, who apperaed for the defendant company, said a technical breach would be admitted. David Tennent, manager, stated that tho trouble arose through a misunderstanding as to the conditions under which the returns should be made. He always supplied the returns on income, but had never supplied returns of land. These were always previously supplied by the Valuation Department, which had all the information required. He thought that'the arrangement was still in force. Mr Paterson quoted authorities and legal interpretations in support of the contention that the company's failure to supply the return was merely a misunderstanding as to the terms under which they should have been forwarded. There was no intention to defraud. The country had not suffered, and the position might be due to the zeal of a new set of officials in stringently enforcing •some previously undiscovered "red tape" regulation. Mr Kitchingham said that the Department was considerably inconvenienced! by the failure of taxpayers to duly forward returns, and a grent deal of unnecessarily extra work was entailed. The prosecution would be a lesson to others. The Magistrate said it was no doubt the duty of the taxpayer to forward returns, but in this ense the offence was not_ deliberate. He thought the minimum penalty would cover the we. Defendants would be convicted and fined £2 with costs. Opening ofl the Tunnel. Great satisfaction is expressed locally at the opening date of the Otira tunnel being fixed definitely. A meeting of delegates from West Coast lcoal bodies will be held at the Borough Council Chambers on Friday to discuss the district programme in connexion with the official opening. Reefton Jockey Club. At the Reef ton Jockey Club's meeting on Friday it was decided to strenuously protest against the Westland Trotting Club's application to race pn January sth, 1924: The Reefton Club will forego the trotting events on their programme sooner than lose that date. Obituary. Mrs Julia Lloyd, an old Westport identity, was found dead in a chair at her residence yesterday. Mr Thomas MacFarlane, Icnown as the "father of boxing" on the West Coast, died at Murcjiison this morning after a long illness. He was born 86 years ago at Glasgow, and came to New Zealand at an early age. He was one of the pioneers of the Lyall district, where he prospected for some time before entering business as a storekeeper. He was also a hotelkeeper for many years in different parts of the West Coast. He was best known, however, through his association with boxing. Fie was first to introduce the sport to the West Coast, and for many years was an instructor, and among his pupils were a number of champions of the old school. He entered the arena himself on many occasions, and was a prominent refere6 Mr MacFari&no was twice married, and his second wife survives him. . In addition to her he lenives four daughters—Mrs Harrison (Christchurch), Mrs Attwood (Westport), and two unmarried daughters living at Murchison—and two sons—Mr T. MacFarlane (Auckland) and Mr Wm. MacFarlane, pronrietor of the Albion Hotel, Greymouth\