TAX OFFICIALS

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 June 1936, Page 10

TAX OFFICIALS

AND ANONYMOUS LETTERS "The more people who send you • anonymous letters giving away their i neighbours’ secrets the better you like lit. Is that not so?” I Mr. Justice Rigby Swift, put this (question to an Inland Revenue inspector during an action heard recently in the Civil Court "at Leeds Assizes, rejjphrts the “Daily Telegraph.” The inspector, called to give evidence regarding anonymous communications alleged to have been sent to his Department, claimed privilege, and handed up a document to the Judge. After reading this, the Judge remarked to counsel: "The Inland Re-venue-Department says that it is not in the public interest that any evidence) of this kind should be given from j their Department. I gather that they, do not desire to discourage the flowi of anonymous communications. 1 believe they like to encourage them.” ( In answer to the Judge’s question the inspector said that these coriimuni-, cations were "often more trouble than; they ■ were worth.” I Mr. Justice Riglry Swift (to coun-j sei): I think it is a lot of rubbish, but T am not prepared to overrule the Department. They have passed a resolution, and sworn ail affidavit to the effect that it. is not in the public in-terest-to divulge such information.

To the inspector, the Judge remarked: “You need not. remain if you would ratfiei* read yout anonymous letters, or se'iVd out clahris for income tax, or perform any other of your interesting duties.”