THE STAMPS OFFICE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 567, 23 July 1909, Page 7

THE STAMPS OFFICE.

AMALGAMATION PROPOSALS. STATEMENT BY DR. FINDLAY; (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Dunedln, ffuly 22. A deputation from the Council of the Law Society of Otago and Southland waited on the Minister for Justice to-day to protest primarily against tho Government's expressed intention of abolishing the local offices for the assessment of death duties,' and centralising the work at Wellington.

James (president of the society) saidthat, if the Government carried out their in.tention, members of tho profession would have to be going,to Wellington to explain matters to officers there.' Difficulties would arso arise', in the stamping of deeds and other matters, which, however, were subsidiary, to the main issue of death duties. On this issue, the society protosted strongly. Mr.' John MacGregor said it was far from their .intention to raise any difficulty in tho way of Government in carrying out a retrenchment scheme, but assuming-the propased change would effect ah apparent saving to the Government,' he felt sure it would be at a.'much greater expense'to tho public. •' Messrs. Woodhouso and Calvert, also spoke i in 'opposition' to the proposed change.. . Dr. Findky said the proposed changes were part of a strenuous effort at reducing the cost of the public service; The Prime Minister stated some time ago _ that ho had in. View a scheme of alterations in the Stamp Duty which would .effect a very large saving in the cost of administration. Ho ''thought 'the sum stated by Sir Joseph Ward was £11,000 per annum. The view Sir Joseph took was that death duties wore after-all a tax, and the proper Depart-' ment to assess and collect the ! 'tax was tho; Tai especially if the change involved substantial economies. Sir Joseph' had also intimated that the Stamps Office was.not the proper office for the creation and i custody of stamps. Both these functions pre'" 1 perly belonged to the Post Office, and that! part of the Stamps Office work should'be transferred to the' Post Office. The'scheme involved these arrangements: that a deed or other instrument should be assessed by one office, and a Post Office official would ! affix and cancel the', requisite stamp: It was j hoped these changes would enable the Gov- j ernment to close the Stamps Offices in al centres except Wellington. The work of the assessment of "stamp duties on deeds and bthor instruments would be done by tho district land registrars as was now the case in smaller centres, and other work in connection with deceased persons'' estates "would be sent to Wellington. The main points to be kept in view were!— Efficiency of service, expense, to thp Governmentof the existing and proposed systems, and the difference to the public in the matter of expense under the present and proposed systems. 'In the matter of efficiency the present system left very little room for complaint, as it had worked satisfactorily for many years, and although there had been delays they were practically unavoidable. The Government had been, led to: believe the'change would mean a very substantial economy to the country. If it invested a saving of,£lljooo per annum, it was the duty of the Government' to do what they could to effect that economy.' If these economies could bo effected, the profession and public could be asked to make certain sacrifices, hut if the sacrifices more than ontweighed -'he economies, then it would be a matter;,for. reconsideration. "He-recognised that,.-'tie change would involve the convenience of_ihe puhfic and profession, and unless, it (fore found to be'worth while tb.erß.was cei-jaihly.good, reason for asking Cabinet to rr -insider tho proposed change. Ho would .c >. for a definite" statement as to what thfpiGovernment could expect to save hy the change; and then having, the- deputation's, representations' in : view; he would-bring the "whole matter before' the ; Cabinet : as early as possible, and ask them to,reconsider it.