RETROSPECTIVE WAGE TAX

Feilding Star, Volume 9, Issue 3794, 11 August 1932, Page 7

RETROSPECTIVE WAGE TAX

C( )UXTY EMPLOYEES PENALISED FOR DELAY IN RECEIVING WAGES OROUA COUNCIL WILL PROTEST Members of the Oroua County Council stared hard when the following letter from the Government audit office, Palmerston, was read : “I have to advise you that the Crown Law Office has given the following ruling in connection with the dedication, of the ‘Unemployment Emergency Tax/ payable under the Unemployment Act. 1921: That the wage tax of Is 8d is jiayuble on wages cr salary received after Ist May 1922 although earned prior to that date.”

The letter proceeded to ask the Council to see that the correct

amount of tax namely 1/- in the £l, was deducted from all wages and salaries, etc., paid since May 1 whether earned prior to that date or not. The Chairman (Cr. Campbell) said the Council had endeavoured to have the Council meeting before April 30 in order to clean up the business of the Council but were unable to do so, and the Council therefore met in May on the usual date. The effect of this was that, the wages and salaries were not paid till May, though due on April 30. lie thought the Council should protest, though they would have to collect the tax an 1 affix the proper stamps to the wage sheets, otherwise they would got a tag on the balance-sheet. The Clerk said it would be impossible to collect the tax in every case, as some of the men had gone away. Cr. McElroy said the letter was before the Power Board on the previous day. an 1 tin' Board referred it to Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P. Cr. Thos. Green suggested the Counties* Association should be asked to protest. The Chairman said ir was not the fault of the employees that they had net received tlieir wages at the end of April, ( an 1 they should not he p( nalised. The Council agreed to make a protest