THE INCOME TAX TROUBLE

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 695, 21 December 1909, Page 7

THE INCOME TAX TROUBLE

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS COMMENCED. ( STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER. ' When tho voto for tho Advances to Settlers Department uae reached in tho courso of tho Estimate yesterday, Mr. JUassoy 6tated that ' this was one of Die Departments grouped with the Land and Income Tax Department under one management. Ho asked the Prime Minister whether ho had any information to lay i before Parliament in regard to tho rooont.inquiries into alleged irregularities in conned < tion TVitb. these Departments Hβ thought that ' up lo the present tho Pnmo Mmif'T had cither eaid too much or too little, and uo was ' very strongly of opinion that the inmours were worie than tho reality. Every eocond maa one mot in IWdlingtonv could tell- one ' about individuals or firms supposed to bo oonnected with what was eaid to havo taken j place, Ho thought that before tho eession. ended tho matter should bo oloarod up by a proper btatemont on tho part of tho Prime Minister. '"• ' Sir Joseph Wnid replied thai; ho was not ' going into the matter excepting to say that proceedings had been commoncod in one case, and ho regarded tho matter as ono which he < should not go into then. He oould not Ear what ooureo the Crown Lair Department wai i taking as to Courts. He did not know wh«r« , tho case would got to. Tho Gorommont's final decision would depend very largely on what was taking place then. i Mr. Massoy: Will tho Prime Minister tell us what ho means by "proceeding*"/ 1 The Prime Minister: All I can eay is tltat legal proceedings havo been commenced. • Mr, Herrios: Against individuals or fins* , onteido the Department ? Tho Primo Minister: Against eom«one curt-' side tho Department who is conoornod in the investigation that took place recently. Mr. Dive: The Prime Minister has stated that tho head of tho Department has been Ens- , pended on full paySir Joseph Ward i I said nothing of the kind, Mr. Drvo. How is it, then, that in. connootion with a petition before o. Committee ho * appeared as hend ofi the Department P Sir Joseph Ward- You had better ask the Committeo if they had any particular object in calling the gentleman roferred to. 1 don't" know anything of that, 'i Mr. Horries a<&ed if tho legal proceeding* were being taken by tho State, and not hj private individuals > Sir Joseph Ward! By tho State.