REPLY BY MR BOWDEN

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27011, 10 April 1953, Page 8

REPLY BY MR BOWDEN

TAXATION RULING DEFENDED “MR QUAYLE OBVIOUSLY MISINFORMED ’’ (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 9. The Associate Minister of Finance (Mr C. M. Bowden) said tonight that the director of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre Company (Mr Anthony Quayle) had obviously been misinformed on certain aspects of the taxation liabilities of the company. Mr Bowden was replying to a statement made today by Mr Quayle. The Minister said he hoped that, after an interview with either the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) or himself, Mr Quayle would be satisfied as to the Government’s sympathy, and that such sympathy had been reflected in a generous concession as far as income tax was concerned.

All overseas theatrical companies which had visited New Zealand had definitely paid both amusement tax and income tax on profits* said Mr Bowden. There had not been any exceptions. “Mr Quayle has quoted sections of the Income Tax Act,” he said. “His company is actually in a more advantageous position as regards income tax because of the application of special provisions for the assessment of organisations which have educational objectives. I know of no other case of a visiting theatrical company where this concession has been made available.” Mr Bowden said that, because of the secrecy provisions of the income tax legislation, he was not at liberty to disclose the details of the assessment of the company.