LAND TAX RETURNS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 199, 21 July 1930, Page 7

LAND TAX RETURNS.

AIADE TOO LATE. PENALTIES FOR DEFAULT. Four cases were brought before Alessrs. W. F. Durward and T. R. Lees, J.P.’s, in the Alagistrate’s Court to-day, at the instigation of the Commissioner of Taxes the proceedings being instituted for failure to furnish returns of land as required by statute. Mr H. R. Cooper entered a plea of guilty on behalf of William Sargent and Edward Souden Sargent, farmers, of Ngapaeruru, Dannevirke. Air F. H. Cooke, who represented the Commissioner of Taxes, stated that default assessments had been made for four years, occasioning considerable trouble. Air Cooper stated that defendants had not been liable for taxation until the new legislation came into force last year, when they paid a demand for £7 3s 2d. They had thought that was all that was necessary, and had not been actuated by a desire to evade their responsibilities. They had beer, extremely worried over the matter. Mr Cooke reiterated that default assessments bad been made for four years. Defendants were fined £2, with 17s costs, and ordered to pay £2 2s solicitor’s fee. A plea of guilty was entered by Air Ongley to a similar charge brought against George Alexander Carmichael, of Dannevirke. Air Cooke stated that the features of the case were similar to those in the previous one. Returns had been furnished late, default assessments having been made -for four years. Mr Ongley stated that the revenue had not suffered from defendant’s action. Defendant was fined £2, with 10s costs and ordered to pay £2 2s solicitor’s fee. “This is another case of continuous neglect,” commented Air Cooke when the case against William Ritchie, of Palmerston North, was called. • Air AlcLeavey entered a plea of guilty on behalf of defendant. Air Cooke stated that no returns had been made for the first two years, while they were made long after the prescribed date during the last two years, causing considerable expense to the State. Air AlcLeavey submitted that the law requiring returns to be made by March 31 was more honoured in the breach than in the observance. There had been no attempt to evade payment. The return last year was made as late as August and no complaint was made. Defendant was fined £2, with 10s costs, and £2 2s solicitor’s fee. Air Laurenson entered a plea of guilty on behalf of Edward Collins and Claude Collins, of Newbury. Defendants were fined £2, with 27s costs and ordered to pay £2 2s for solicitor’s fee.