RETRENCHMENT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 565, 21 July 1909, Page 9

RETRENCHMENT.

; ' REARRANGEMENT OF THE STAMPS DEPARTMENT. STATEMENT BY DR. FIND /AY. , (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Clirlstcliuroh, July 20., With refereiico to tho Government's scheme of retrenchment, Dr. Findlay states thathenceforth the creation and custody or all stamps will bo in the hands of the , Post Office. The assessment of tho deceased estates for duty purposes and the collection ot duty will bo transferred to tho Land and Income Tax Department. In all centres the duty upon deeds will be assessed by "the district Land Registrar, but deeds will then have to be stamped by a Post Office official. The original Stamps Office staff, .which was always small, will under the new arrangement be still further reduced. The Stamp Oifico Department will continue' to have charge of the work of assessing all deeds and of the registration of -companies and various classes of societies, and will rotain tho secretarial work of. tho Deeds Office and other special work which has hitherto attached to tho Stamp Officc Department. Tho new scheme had, Dr. Eindlay. added, been brought in with tlie, view of retrenchment, and lie. hoped that when in operation a considerable saving would be effected. At present he was unable to suggest to what extent tho saving,would bo evident. ■■■'':■• v' It is understood that in Christchurch tho Stamp Office as suoh will oease to exist altogether. ■

DISSATISFACTION AT CHRISTCHURCH. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.! Christchurch, July 20. Ho proposed retrenchment in the Stamps Department has been received with much , disfavour by members of the legal profession in Christchurch. It soems to be definitely settled that the Christohurch office is to bo abolished, and. the duties ■ hitherto performed bv tho doputy-commissioner and his staff placed in the. hands of other. Departments. 'Ihe most, important of tho .changes proposed'is that the whole of the work , connected with tho estates of deceased persons is to be oentralised in'.Wellington and placed in tho hands of the Land and Income Tax Department. .This' deals', with the important subject of death duties, from which tho .Dominion derivos a very considerable revenue. . Another, change less important, but nevertheless farreaching,, is that the duty on deeds or other instruments is to be assessed by the District Land Registrar; and the acting stamping 'done by officials of tho Post Office. It has not yet .been: definitely stated what is to _bo done 'with the stamping work connected' with companies, and building, industrial, and' provident 'societies. '

From inquiries mado'by a "Press" reporter, it appears that one result of the change.will bp to.tamper.solicitors in obtaining' the passing of accounts jn .connection witli tho estates of 'deceased persons. This work has,' it is understood, : engaged most of the time" of the local staff,'a-nd tlio proximity of the office .to thp city has enabled the solicitors concenicd to consult with the officers in, regard to the procedure required by tlio Department. Such consultations will probably, under'the new arrangement, have to be conducted by corrospoiidetioo, which will tend to. •lengthen, proceedings aid cause undue dolav. Most of the. delay experionccd' at present in dealing with deatli duties is.caused by the WeUington office in its thirst for trivial'details. -- 4 - The'suggestion was made by one gentleman 'that in - the interests of economy, decentralisation; arid not centralisation, was wanted, ■Or, in other . Words, that the assessments of the local' deputy-commissioner' should be final, as; they are in other matters without reference to the office. The. importance of local information in the fixing of assess-! monts was, also enlarged, upon, and instances were cited whero thousands of pounds had .'been saved to the Dominion'by the possession; of that information. On the whole, it was considered that tha change was one of extremely doubtful ccinoray, and that .the convenience of the public will not be served. ~ v ! Mr..,Beswicki the;,president thai Jjaw~ Society, said that the change would bo very ; Jinconvoniont for tho profession^. "Under;the present arrangements the, documents are ; lodged ii.' :j 'iihe , ,.Stamp Office,, and .as soon ; as ;the, st?mp iduty., has beou, assessed, .and : the'stamp; money paid; .the documents aro. taken over to the Land' Registry' Office; which- ison the other side of .the passago. _If monts havo; to go to the District Land ■■ Registrar to have .the ■,duty assessed,- ancUthen go to tho Post, Office to be stamped; it will entail a great deal mora work; which possibly will have to be {laid for by the people for, ■whom, the; work is done. ; With regard -to deceased persons'' estates,' the proposed alteration. will certainly make matters mors .expensive. ._ We shall have to communicate with Wellington, and, in many cases, probably have to employ agents in Wellington. If there,. are any, matters of appeal to the Commissioner of Stamps regarding 'the duty ■on deceased persons' estates,' tlicso will' probably have to bo disposed of in Wellington fnste'ad of locally, which will mean an additional: item: of expense to. clients here." Mr. Cotterill, a member, of tHo firm of Duncan, Cotterill, and Stringer,- expressed his :k:onriction. that tho closing of tho Stdmp Offico would oausi) a. fearful amount of inconvenience, particularly in connection . witli death-duties, and tho passing- of accounts. Members of the profession always had difficulty in getting answers from Wellington' in dealing with : death duties. - There were all sort's, of petty details, and there would be u'o 'end to. correspondence with -Wellington on small matters which were now settlod by personal interviews. He was firmly, convincwi' that the change would increase the expense of winding .up..estates, and ,that the cost to the public would bo greater. ■' Tho,' mjattw. will probably be taken -up by the Law . Society. . ■ , ■