CAPE PARLIAMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13673, 16 August 1906, Page 7

CAPE PARLIAMENT.

AN AMNESTY BILL PASSED, THIi INCOME TAX OX THE DE BEERS COMPANY! Preis Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. CAPETOWN, August 15. (Received August 15. at 9.58 p.m.) Tlie Cape Assembly has passed the Amnesty for Rebels jJill,' removing all disabilities from labels. It also acclaimed a bill to prcTent the adulteration of wine and brandy. This bill prohibits the use of . cane sugar, salicylic acid, or other foreign substances, and proper labelling is made compulsory. Mr J. X. Merriman created a sensation by remarking that it was almost- impossible to obtain a good bottle o! Cape wine. (Received August 15, at 11.14 p.m.) The recent decision of the English courts that the I)o ISoers Diamond Company is resident in tho United Kingdom and liable to pay income tax formed the subject of a resolution which v.\is moved by Mr Merriman in the Cape Assembly, and which was unanimously adopted, It expressed regret that the Imperial Govrvmnent had taxed companies which to all intents and purines wore South African companip.s, and said that such a proceeding would have consequences prejudicial to the best, inter, ests of the Empire, Mr Merrimau remarked thai Capo Colony must turn to the l)e lleers Company for the means of meeting tho interest on the colony'/; liabilities, but it was now hampered and prevented from imposing a !c<;itiniute. tax on that undertaking, 11c predicted that next session an irresistible demand would ho miuje in Cape Colony for a tax on diamonds : therefore it. was important that they should prevent the Motherland from intervening and taking the dues lielonsing to ihe colony. The last clause of "the resolution implied that the De lieers Company might- fix its headquarters in Paris, America, or elsewhere.