CRITICISM BY MAGISTRATE

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 28 September 1933, Page 9

CRITICISM BY MAGISTRATE

CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT

METHODS WITH SALES. TAX

CBy Telegraph—Wees Association). CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 27. Severe criticism of the Customs JJfeuartment and its administration of the sales tax regulation® was expressed by Mr Laws, S.M., in the Magistrate s Court to-day, when the first prosecution in New Zealand was brought by the department under the Sales lax Act, 1932-33. The magistrate characterised certain actions of the department in the case under his notice as illegal and suggested, in view of the facts, that two of three charges should be withdrawn. To the collector of customs and sales tax for Christchurch (Mr C. O. Trownson), the magistrate suggested that the department was making a scapegoat or the firm concerned. Mr Trownson finally agreed to withdraw two of the charged and the magistrate reserved his decision on the other count. ' A clothing manufacturing company was charged with failing to deliver to the collector of the sales tax a return setting out the aggregate amount ot sales and the value of all taxable goods sold by the company during the month ended May 19. Similar charges were laid in resjiect of the months ended June 19 and July 19.