STAMP ACT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 27 May 1925, Page 6

STAMP ACT.

CHARGE AGAINST A SOLICITOR,

MAGISTRATE IMPOSES A FINE

(BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH, May 26.

Giving his reserved judgment in the Magistrate’s Court to-day, Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., upheld a charge of a breach of the Stamp Duty Act against Frederick Wilding, K.C., and fined defendant £25. Notice of'appeal Avas immediately given. The charge against Wilding "was that on August 13, 1923, at Christchurch, being concerned in or about the preparation of a memorandum of transfer, dated August 13, 1923, with , intent to defraud His Majesty he did omit wil- f

fully and truly to set forth all the facts and circumstances affecting the amount of the ad valorem duty .with which such instrument yvas chargeable.' The Magistrate said he was unable to accept defendant’s explanation of his state of mind. He was of opinion that defendant directed his managing clerk that the transfer should go through with the sole object of evading the payment of large sums of money. The Magistrate said he took into consideration the fact that defendant had been in practice for many years, and had risen to high eminence in his profession. That, however, must carry a corresponding responsibility. He was quite satisfied that the only difficulty to the completion of the transfer in dispute was Aiming’s objection to pay stamp duty, and that the defendant became aware of the nature of the obstacles and the, transfer "was made solely for the purpose of evading the Act.