EVADING STAMP DUTY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21540, 11 July 1933, Page 11

EVADING STAMP DUTY

TROUBLE OVER RECEIPTS PROPERTY OWNER FINED "A WARNING TO OTHERS" [by TELEGRAPH- —OWN ( OHIt ESPON DENT ] WHANG ARE I, Monday A plea of guilty was entered by James Jackson in the Whangarei Police Court to-day to four charges of separating receipts of £2 and over with intent to avoid payment of stamp duty and to three charges of failing to affix a twopenny stamp on receipts of £2 and over.

Senior-Sergeant Powell said that accused was a large property owner, having over 20 houses in Whangarei. In several ca;:es where he had collected rent, he failed to stamp the receipts, while in other cases he had split the amounts to. bring them under £2. Mr. J. I'\ S. Briggs, for defendant, said the charges were' brought by the police with the idea of making the position known to the public that the practice was illegal. Several Magistrate's Court decisions, had ruled that an amount might be separated without payment of stamp duty. Defendant had over £BOO owing to him for arrears of rent and was unable to pay rates for the past' two years. Through these worries he had been absent-minded in failing to stamp the receipts for amounts over £2.

"This man is a large property owner and continually signing receipts," said the magistrate, Mr. G. N. Morris. "1 do not know how much revenue has been lost in the course of years by devices for avoiding stamp duty and 1. cannot regard these charges other than as serious. I must fix a penalty which will have a deterrent effect upon others. The Act provides for a penalty of £lO and I will impose fines and costs which will have that effect."

On each of the four charges of separating amounts defendant was ordered to pay 10s costs. On one charge of failing to affix stamp duty he was fined £3 and on each of the other two charges £2, with costs 10s on each.