LAND RETURNS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 162, 10 June 1929, Page 6

LAND RETURNS

FAILURE TO COMPLY.

FINES FOR OMISSION. Proceedings were instituted in the Magistrate's Court this morning, before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., by the Commissioner of Taxes against Frederick John Sheppard, ironmonger, of Palmerston North, it being alleged that, as the owner of land of an unimproved value of £SOO or over, lie had failed to furnish a return setting forth a complete statement of the land in his possession, in accordance with the provisions of the Land and Income Tax Act. ... Defendant admitted his omission to make the returns this year until he had received a summons. He had been advised that he had not complied with the requirements siiice 1914, but that was incorrect, as he had furnished the returns last year. He pleaded guilty to failure to furnish the return on the present occasion. His Worship: But you are not prepared to swear that you have always sent them in at tho proper time? —No. Mr F. H. Cooke tor the department stated that there was no suggestion of dishonesty of purpose. The Magistrate imposed a fine of £5, with 10s costs.

AN ARRANGEMENT CANCELLED. Bernard Gapper Gower, farmer, of Foxton. was called upon to answer a similar charge of failing to make the required returns, and a plea of S u ’Ry was entered, on his behalf, bv Mr Inncs, who stated that there had been no attempt to evade responsibdity, defendant being unaware that an existing arrangement with the department had been annulled. Defendant had not followed the practice of making an actual return for some years, the assessment being debited against his property, and not a single penny in taxation had been lost. Mr Cooke stated that the circumstances were as outlined. A penalty of £5 with 10s costs was inflicted.