DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1924, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[IIY TELEGRAPH—I’KII PRESS ASSOCIATION. I’OSIX AS DETECTIVE. BLENHEIM. May 15. Bather an extraordinary ease of a young man of immature, slight build, posing as a detective was to-day brought before a J.P., here. The accused, who is eighteen years of age. is charged that on May 13th. lie attempted to obtain from Doris Caroline Reeves the sum of Cl by false pretence that he was a member of the New Zealand Police Force, and lie was furLher charged with being a rogue and a vagabond in that he attempted to impose on Miss Reeves. It is understood the accused hailed from Brightwater. in the Nelson district and has been working here casually for a week nr two. A remand was granted, also an order prohibiting the publication ol the accused’s name.

MILK VENDOR FIXED CM. MA.STERTON, May Ifi llenrv Emerson, a milk vendor, was lined L'2l) at the Magistrate’s Court to-day for having sold milk which did not comply with the standard required under the Act. This was his second offence within a month. POSTAL OFFICIAL SENTENCED. DUNEDIN. May Id. At the Supreme Court Jonas I* iticld, a youth, and ex-postal employee, for detaining a letter and stealing and opening a postal packet, was sentenced to twelve months reformative.

TAXATION COM M i SSIO X. WELLINGTON, May Id. Before the Taxation Commission, Sir John Findlay, dealing with progressive income tax. pointed out there could lie no ideal tax, none to which serious objection might not logically be made. It appeared clearly to he the best form of taxation the Stale could adopt, lie could suggest no improvement on the method of graduation employed in the present system, lie agreed with those who thought the present land tax should he abolished altogether, and a progressive income tax imposed on farmers, as was imposed on other businesses. It there was any class oT the community that deserved indulgent consideration of the taxing authorities, it was the small tanner. It lie made no profits beyond the minimum subsistence deduction, he should not pay the lax. To so tax him was to tax his capital, and this offended against one ol the most tsrmly estah-li-.hed (.amnis of taxation.

WELLINGTON, .Mat Id. Sir ,1. Eindlay continued Hull lie favoured the retention ot the graduated land tax. lie ihougln it would he disastrous i! wealthy landowners were left IVce. in Hie absence "! a graduated lax, lo go mi aggregating their holdings until the •amnuni nl cultivable land available lor closer settlement was enormously reduced. However, the Commissioner should have power In reduce or remit the lax where large holdings were necessary owing to the quality or character ol I lie land, but only on the application of the owner and on proof that the largeness of the holding was necessary for profitable farming, and that the area was unsuitable for closer settlement. The graduated tax- was never meant to apply to eitv lands occupied for commercial or industrial purposes, and should he limited in operation to rural lands, and to the aggregation of town and suburban lands held tor speculative purpiises.

I'ITBI.rC ACCOUNTS. WELLINGTON. May ID. The Public Accounts for the .'car ended .‘list. March. 1021. arc G.ucttcd to-day. The Consolidated I'linii. ordinary revenue account shows the total receipts to be £35.020.002. including the balance brought forward from last vear £5.037 .OSD.

Customs provided C7.235.2b>. Mump and Death Duties C3.313.7'M : Post ««•« Telegraph. .P HI: '-and _ l il>; AM 120. tD2 : I motor fax. £3.i81.0.M; Beer' Hut.' £G32."23; Uaihvuy-. .PIS; Registration and othei ices £215.221: Marine. C!i:).q:! I : lnler-j-ultlic Moneys. LTMS.X!)I : Local Bo lies- I ns Act. Section .0. p.j.jn.-,! ; of £S)W: Tourist and Health Resorts. £17.1D0: Miscellaneous. £121.201: Territorial .eiots. C-PHA’2I-': Recoveries. £08.220. The expefnliture totalled ‘-"’•D.DO.i.dld.

including permanent appropriations. £12.15n. 572 : annual appropriations. £12.007.121 : transfers, to various •><- (■unuts C 1.200.01: Trcnstirv Bills redeemed. £2.250.000; transfers lor loans redemption £1,20< .421. The ha la nee at the end of the year was £1.05-1.712.