THE TRAVIS BEQUEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20070, 6 October 1928, Page 16

THE TRAVIS BEQUEST.

Sir, —This magnificent bequest to humanity of £57,100, the income from which is to be applied for medical research for the cause and cure of consumption and cancer, rouses feelings of deep satisfaction and thankfulness; but the. action of the Government in demanding stamp duty of £14,300 rouses indignation and disgust. I understand that money left for religious purposes is free of stamp duty. If ever there was a case of true_ religion in the disposition of an estate, ][ venture to say it is in this case. The trustees very properly approached the Government for remission, "as the money was all for the benefit of humanity." The reason for refusal is incredibly weak, viz.: "As it was probable Mr. Travis realised the death duties would have to bci paid, lo remit them would amount to altering his will." X should think it far more probable that Mr. Travis imagined that any Minister of Finance—short of Shylock—would immediately remit the death duties and thus nwell the total bequest for this truly religious object. The people of New Zealand will resent the zeal of the Hon. W. Downie Stewart in insisting on securing this £14,300 for the Exchequer; they would be better pleased to see such munificence rewarded by a subsidy. I hope still to hear that the Government have revised the dictum of the Minister, and so removed a serious blot from its escutcheon. J. Tiiornes. 231, Parnell Road. *