FALSE RETURNS OF INCOME

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 139, 26 May 1928, Page 5

FALSE RETURNS OF INCOME

A BAKER FINED £126, ‘‘CASE OF DOWNRIGHT IMPUDENCE.’’ Auckland, May 25. At the Police Court, a baker named Alexander Shand, in business at Huntly appeared to answerfive charges of wiltully making false returns of income for the year s 1923 to 1927. He pleaded not guilty. Mr Hubblq, for the Crown, stated that it would shown that the defendant was depositing as savings more than hi s returnable taxable income. The total deficiency in the amount of the tax paid was £307 19s 7d. The inspector suggested to the defendant that his books were all “bunkum.” Defendant replied. “I suppose they are.” Mr Terry, who appeared for Shand, said he must admit that the returns as rendered were incorrect. However, they were not wilfully so rendered; at most, they were negligently rendered. Shand did not wilI'ulyy perpetrate a fraud upon the Taxation Department. He was an efficient baker and thrifty, but his. knowledge of accountancy was both elementary and rudimentary. Shand, in his ignorant way thought he only had to make a return of his inijonie from the business after deducting expenses. His wife had money in the business. She wa 8 really a partner and defendant did not consider he was bound to render particulars of private returns. “Well. I am going to convict this man,” said the Magistrate, Mr Hunt. “It i s a case of downright impudence. Why. in one year he showed his income to be £406. whereas it was shown in evidence this afternoon to have been over £l2OO. He has been getting out of paying his taxation, and he has been drawing money nut and nutting it in his pocket. Shand will lie fined £25 and costs on each of the five charges. That will make people be honest in their returns,”