IRISH,LAND PURCHASE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 244, 9 July 1919, Page 7

IRISH,LAND PURCHASE

The future of Irish land purchase was considered by. tho Irish Parliamentary lieconstruction Committee at the House of Commons recently. Sir John Butcher was in,the chair, and Mr. llobert Sanders made an interesting statement on the problem, chiefly from the financial side. Ho explained that the purchase money in ■ pending sales would bo .£17,554,984, and that it would take .£15,000,000 more to complete land purchase. About two-thirds of tho agricultural land of Ireland had passed under the operation of the Land Purchase Acts, to' an amount of about ,£100,000,000. Tho following resolution was passed and ordered to be. sent to tho Prime Minister, Mr. Austen Chamberlain, and Mr. Mac- ' pherson ;—

"That:this meeting is' of opinion that the completion of tho purchase of Irish land under the Wyndham Act of 1903 is nn urgent necessity in the interest of Ihn community in Ireland, and in viow of tha fact that tho financial arrangements for this purpose have broken down, and requests the Government to bring in. a echemo which will complete this essential measure."

The question how far money gifts from companies to their employees may l>e assessable to income-tnx was raised in England recently before Mr. Justice Rowlatt. The matter arose on an appeal !'rmn Revenue Commissioners. The anpcl- " lant had been secretary and liquidator of a compniiY without remuneration; e and at the end of his services he received a «if t . from the 'sliavt'linldor*. The Commissioners were of opinion that the fipii"!lnnt was the holder of an office of profit within the meaning of Rule 3, section 146, of the Income Tax Act. 1842. and they confirmed tho assessment that had been made. Mr. 'Justice Rowlalt agreed with them. (Cowan v. Seymour, Surveyor of Taxes).