CONSUMERS AGREEMENTS

Evening Star, Issue 19723, 25 November 1927, Page 3

CONSUMERS AGREEMENTS

STAHP EUTV SURF USE jI'UOM Ocil PaRUAMUXTARV liEI’OHTEI!.] WELLINGTON. November 24. Suggesting that consumers’" guarantees to nso a certain amount of electric power were not proper agreements, Air K. F. Lee (Ofimani) asked in tlio House to-night why the Stamp Duties Amendment Hill provided that they ho liable to a duty of 3s. Air Lee explained that before boards would connect up houses with the reticulation system they demanded that a form he signed by the consumer agreeing to use a certain amount of current. The eagle eye of the-Audit Office had discerned this little scrap of paper, and declared that it was a legal agreement, and therefore liable tc 3s duty. Air Leo thought it was wrong to treat these documents in such a manner. There were thousands of such documents in existence for tho protection of local authorities, and it Alio Government was serious in the matter, it should also validate all old unstamped documents, which would otherwise be liable to a penalty of £O. Air Ransom (Fahiatua) said it would be very irksome for a board with hundreds of applications before it to see that every one was stamped. Mr A. Hamilton thought it was only fair that power boards be placed on a level basis with other trading concerns.

MV Williams (Minister of Works) .stated that he would consult the Minister of Finance on this point, as ho thought, it would be dealt with in another Bill. Subsequently the Jionso dealt with the Stamp _ Duty Bill, when Mr Stewart (Minister of Finance) explained, that lie would add a clause exempting from duty these agreements with 'power consumers. The amount was usually only Is 3d, but his danse would meet the grievance, .which seemed widespread.