THE STAMP DUTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2744, 17 October 1906, Page 66

THE STAMP DUTY.

STAMPING DUPLICATE RECEIPTS. WELLINGTON, October 15.

A deputation from the Chamber of Commerce, which waited on the Minister in charge of the Stamps Department to-day pointed out. that if the stamping of duplicate receipts was insisted on it would prove a \ery costly burden to some and irritating to the commercial comniumly. This would be especially so in the case of shipping and insurance oompank-. For \ear6 pa->t the practice had been not to "stamp duplicate receipts, and thoy could hardly believe that it was ever the indention of tha Legislature that duplicate u-ceipts should be stamped. They earnestly hoped that the law would be immediately amended. It was mentioned that the deputation did not wi-h it to be understood that duplicate receipts were to Lo accepted as legal proof of payment. The whole question was purely one between branches and head offices of a business house.

The Minister "sai-d he appreciated the points made by the deputation. As a matter of fact ho had drafted the following new clause to the bill at present before the committee of the House:— " Where, pursuant to any custom of trade, lcxeipts are given in sets it shall he sufficient if only one of the eet is stamped, provided that the parts not stamped be clearly and distinctly marked at the time when the original receipt is grven, showing that they respectively form part of the set. Any person n* liable to a fine not exceeding £50 who gi\e= any receipt purporting to be one of a feet without seeing that one of such set is duty stamped, or who gives any receipt purporting to be one of a set that is not in fact one of a set." He quite agreed with the deputation that the Legislature never intended that anything but the original receipt should be- stamped. Any other course would only lend to friction and annoyance. The question of stamping agreements outlined in the bill before the House was aleo referred to. In reply, the Hon. Mr Carroll

said this matter was ako under consideration by the committee at present engaged on the bill, and he thought the deputation would be perfectly satisfied when the bill emerged from committee.