DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 April 1925, Page 1

DOMINION ITEMS.

BT TELEGIIAI’H—PRESS ASSN., COPVRIGHT. XEiW INCOME TAX RETURNS. THITHER INFOB MATIOX SOUGHT. AVKLJ.rXGTOX, April 21. Owing to a rearrangement in the of the income tax form, doubt has arisen us to how information is to be supplied, and whether income derived from dividends drawn front companies is to be specially taxable. The Taxation Commission last year recmonicnded that legislation should ho passed instructing and empowering the Oomniisxiutier of Taxes when obtaining future income tax returns, to compel the individual to include in his return the whole of his income from all sources, specifying the amount from each source, separately. In accordance with this recommendation the schedule has been altered by a regulation for the purpose of ascertaining the amount of income derived from dividends, but there is no intention of levying double taxation. The taxpayer will be assessed according to bis income. as previously, apart from dividends. As was recognised by the Commission all data regarding dividends and other separate sources of income will not he compiled before the end of this year and, before then, it will not he possible to decide whether or not a complete change can be made from tho present system of taxing companies direct. as individuals, to the system of taxation of every individual upon his total income from all sources. This will be a matter for deliberation by the Parliament- to lie elected this year. The Taxation Commission recommended that, if a complete change wore found difficult, or impracticable, a beginning should be made by taxing individuals in respect of dividends received by them from companies, and supplementing the revenue obtained in this way by a moderate flat rate on all profits of companies.

Dll CM APPLE’S AIISSiON. LIBERAL REVIVAL AT HOME. WELLINGTON. April 21. Dr AV. A. Chappie, formerly ALP. for Dumfries in the House of Commons, and for some years prominent in New Zealand politics, arrived in Wellington by the Alabcno- from Sydney to-day. Dr Chappie is paying a visit to New Zealand before returning to Australia to study two important questions, the working of the arbitration method in settling industrial disputes and the system of preferential voting, lie believes that Australia has first-hand information to give oil these, subjects. The dominions, he contends, are good political laboratories and the results there achieved are a guide to politicians in Great Britain, where these problems arc not as near solution as in the dominions.

The three-party system in Britain, in the opinion of l)r Chappie, means minority rule, which is the negation of Democracy. Al present there, are 124 minority members in the House of Commons.

I n bis opinion there is not the slightest possibility of the Socialist, forces regaining power in Great Britain. The present Government, he states, was elected as a “stunt” issue by terrorising, ‘lie electors info voting for a, safe and stable Tory Administration. but there was no doubt of the intention of the Baldwin Governnienl to advance the cause ul social legislation and to put up a record for live years along a broad, if not advanced, and Liberal Hue in order to justify allot Iter period of office. The surge in tfie mind and heart, of Britain was a surge inwards Libera! ends. There were no Tories and no •Socialists in the Liberal ranks, but but 1 1 Mr Baldwin's party and the Labour Parly were charged with Liberals wJio dominated both.

RAILWAY E?v PERT. ARRIVAL OF At it FAY. AVEULIXGTOX, April 21. Air S. E. Fay arrived in 'Wellington by the Alahono to-day to take up an appointment as operating and equipment assistant in the New Zealand Railways Department. Mr Fay, who is a son ol Fir Sam hay, one of the commissioners who recently inquired into the Now Zealand railways svstem, was educated at -Malvern College, England, and Al’Gill University, Montreal. He served for six months with a. German professor at Dus-soltloiT and was fur a similar period in a railway office in l’nris. As a Commissioner of the British Board of Trade he accompanied Air C. If. Pearson on an investigation of tho German and Austrian railway methods, and has twice visited America and Canada with technical railway officers. Trained tinder the Great Central Bailway Company’s higher grade scheme. Air Fay is efficient in operating traffic, working the running slied, driving and firing, district engineering, dock and marine work, and passenger and goods accountancy. During the- Groat War AFr Fay served with the Royal Engineers in France for two years, from 191-1, and was sulsscqucntly with the Bailwav Operating Division. He left the Army with tho rank of major, after having acted as Heputv Assistant. Director of General Movements and Railways at Paris. Litter lie was appointed AssistantDistrict Superintendent ot the London Division of the Great Central Railway, and was afterwords, lor three years, with the traffic department of tho Ran Paulo railway in Brazil, subsequently being appointed chief operating officer. He loft this latter post- to accept a position with the Canadian National Railways, and then, as secretary, joined the Royal Commission which investigated the New South Wales and New Zealand Government railways. It is hoped, as a. result- of Air Fax s appointment, that there will be brought about a greater degree of efficiency and improvement- in the railway services. PAYMENT OF AVAR PENSIONS. AUCKLAND. April 21. For the purpose of co-ordinating methods in payment of Imperial AA ar pensions bv the New Zealand Government. Air CL J. Gilbert. pr.nc.pal clerk to the British Ministry ot Pensions. is paying a visit _ to the Dominion. Air Gilbert arrived by Du Atlantic- and expects to remain in New Zealand about six weeks. He is on a fifteen-months’ tour covering all tho important countries ot the Empue with the exception of Canada. He left England at the end ot December and after visiting the British AAestIndies and British Guiana, he joined tho A theme at Panama. Tho Now Zealand Government pa>* pensions to a considerable number ot I imperial .ex-soldiers and ex-sail ore, most- of whom emigrated to this conn-

try after the war. It obtains from the Imperial Government a refund of the moneys so paid. Tho primary purpose of Air Gilbert’s visit is to confer with the Comptroller and Auditor-General, who reviews the accounts of the New Zealand Pensions Department, with the object of bringing tho accounts respecting Imperial pensioners into line with the Imperial Government’s requirements. He is also empowered to discuss with the Government any other relevant questions that may arise. Among these may be the method of paying pensions and their adjustment by arrangement. Imperial war pensioners in New Zealand are brought before medical boards from time to time and theii pensions arc reviewed by the Pensions Department in accordance with instructions from Homo. Air Gilbert will doubtless discuss this phase of the matter with the authorities. RAILWAY SERVICE. WELLINGTON, April 21. It, is understood that first grade en-gine-drivers in the railway service have been granted an ineiea.se in wages annumting to Sd per day; that the increase wiil be retrospective to April, 192.1, and that the period in which locomotive men may reach the maximum rate of pay has been reduced from twelve to eight years. Al Eli DEL OF A SOLDIER. DUNEDIN, April 21. In connection with tho charge against Swaboda of murdering Cromar an Otago soldier in Germany after the Armistice, the secretary of the Dunedin IDS.A. has been advised by the Defence Alinister, through the Colonial Secretary, that the evidence of Clark, an eye-witness, is considered very important, and that the New Zealand Government’s oiler to send him to England lias been gratefully accepted.