COLLECTION OF TAXES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21153, 9 April 1932, Page 11

COLLECTION OF TAXES

COMPLAINT BY PREMIER. AGREEMENT OF 1923. ALLEGED REPUDIATION. By Telepraph—-Prens Association—Copyright. (Received April 9, 12.45 a.m.) SYDNEY, April 8. Mr. Lang has written to the Prime Minister complain:ng of the Commonwealth having repudiated the agreement of 1923, under which New South Wales undertook to act as the collecting authority for Federal and State land and income taxes. He says he has no alternative but to cancel that agreement forthwith. It was announced by Mr. Lang this evening that lie would attend the Premiers' Conference next week, called to discuss unemployment.

EINDINGI OF COURT. AGENT-GENERAL'S OPINION. SUGGESTION OF APPEAL. LONDON, April 7. "The decision of the High Court of Australia that the Financial Agreement | Enforcement Act is valid threatens State ! independence ancl endangers the federa- | tion," said Mr. A. C. Willis, Agent-Gen- ; eral for New South Wales, to a repre- | sentative of the Sun. "The dissent of I the Chief Justice and Mr. Justice Evatt j leads me to predict confidently that if j Mr. Lang appeals to the Privy Council ! the decision will be reversed. I "Mr. Lang meant what he said when jhe declared that he would use every | means to resist [ho enforcement of the ! Act." j A slight hardening of Australian stocks |on the London Stock Exchange was ; noticeable after the announcement of the | proclamation. Also there was some Eisclling of higher-priced Commonwealth ! and State stocks, the sellers reinvesting ;in cheaper Australian issues, notably those of New South Wales.