THE STAMP OFFICE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 561, 16 July 1909, Page 6

THE STAMP OFFICE.

'■'••■■• { --' ; '--'.''■■' vy,'-',, V'V-' ;.V- .•■■■. ;:V ; .RADICAL : .;GB^GES':TO' : -BB.iMADE. '."-'■ yAs.part of the general scheme of retrenchment- outlined by,- the. Prjme Minister, -(Sir -3oseph;i.Ward) '.spffle/time ago,';; Cabinet ;h'as approved;:of',radical alterations in [the Stamp' :]Depaftmeri't/ :'./.',;.: ', ,-.,-.. , ; '.\-,;. •:■ :'Speaking ; tova... reporter/yesterday,, Dr. Findlay,stated..that.it would' be his -duty, as. Commissioner of ;Stamps, to. carry. 1 -out; the alterations. 'The creation and issub of stamps, would-be transferred "to .the' Post Office De-. partment, and would, hencefojth,' be '. dealt with, entirely by.-that; office. .--'.' Then,;again, the .deceased persons' .estate and duty would ' be; transferred-to the Land and Income Tax • Department. In future, deceased persons' estates'; accounts, all parts of. the Dominion, must bOjSent' to Wellington, and air : work-.connected > with -.the 'assessment and; ; collection; of' duty -on deceased,'persons' ■' es-. tates would?be:concentrated; hero. Thovas- : sessment:of stamp-duty on deeds in centres , other'than Wellington would, be carried out '. by the District Land Registrars, and the administration of the Death Duties Act would, ■'■ pass to', the' Land and Indbme Tax Assessment; Department'. : -. ; The rest' of; the .work formerly! carried" but by the Stamps; Department (in- ■ eluding assessments .upon deeds.;and other ..in-. . struments of ;:all.>:kinds,_ the registration of ■ companies, 'building societies, 'industrial and provident .societies, the. work'in-connection' with of*'the Lands and ; Deeds Departments,-and-all other: work -for-: ' merly done/ under ; the Commissioner .of Stamp 3) would remain with the, Stamps Office, .'together; probably., with' some other; work which might be added later. It was,' he continued, anticipated that the changes. i would involve the retirement of a'number of . officers, and consequently. "&[ considerable ' saving would'be . made. There was a pro- | bability that.some legislation might be rei quired to complete the proposed changes, .but; • the alterations; would be carried; out as-soon I as. possible, and, as far is ' possible, under i -the existing' legislation. ,', . ','