ASSOCIATED CHAMBERS

Evening Star, Issue 23728, 8 November 1940, Page 2

ASSOCIATED CHAMBERS

CONFERENCE CONCLUDED FINANCE AND TAXATION CONSULTATION BEFORE LEGISLATION URGED [Per United Press Association.] NEW PLYMOUTH, November 7. A resolution was carried by the annual conference of the Chambers' of Commerce of New Zealand to-night expressing appreciation of the action of the Government in calling together a national economic conference and approval of the findings of the committee, and recommending to the executive and to individual .Chambers of Commerce that • they should taike action whereby they could implement the recommendations of the committee. Remits passed by the conference were: “ That this conference appeals to the Minister ,of Finance to appoint a suitable committee to be authorised to discuss with a joint committee of representatives of the farming, manufacturing, and commercial interests the proposed legislation dealing with finance and taxation . prior to such legislation, being’brought before the House.”-’The-';* Associated Chambers,’ being representative Of a Very Targe'proportion of the business community of the Dominion, and wishing to co-operate with the Go- '■ vernment in these matters, consider that such a widely-representative joint committee could render valuable assistance and advice to the Government committee, which, in turn, could, make its recommendations to the Minister.’l (Canterbury.) “With a view to easing the burden of private citizens in the payment of income tax and also to rendering practical service to date, this conference recommends that wider publicity be • given to the facilities for the payment of income tax, particularly by instalments in advance through the medium of income tax certificates, and/or advance payments made direct to. the Land and Income Tax Department in Wellington. It is also recommended that wider facilities, perhaps in the form of tax stamps, similarlv purchasable in advance, be introduced, thus enabling the payers of modest amounts to spread their commitments over a year.” (Dunedin.) “ That this conference reaffirms a resolution at a previous conference a ski ing for the setting up of an intermediate body between the Commissioner. of Taxes and the taxpayer.” (Dunedin.) “ That in view of the great amount of time and trouble involved in completing the many returns required by the Government departments, the Government be asked to give considers-’ tion to the restricted staffs, the increased costs, and the need for the elimination of waste and reduce its requirements to a minimum.” (Wellington.) Mr Gordon Fraser (Taranaki) was elected president in succession to Mr W. S. Mac Gibbon (Christchurch). Other officers elected were;—Vice-pre-sident, Captain S. Holm; executive— North Island, Messrs N. B. Spencer (Auckland). Gordon Fraser (Taranaki), G. D. O’Toole (Wanganui), A. M.. Seaman (Auckland)) South Island—Messrs C. M. Bruce (Dunedin). R. C. Burgess (Dunedin). J. M. Jenkins (South Canterbury), W. S. Mac Gibbon (Canterbury),’ C. B. Tapley (Invercargill); Wellington—Captain S. Holm, Messrs W. H. Hindle, M. G. C. M'Caul. R. H. Nimmo, Stronach Paterson. P. E. Pattrick, A. R. Hislop; New Zealand vicepresident of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the (British Empire, Mr A. G. Lunn (Auckland). It was decided to hold the next conference at Invercargill.