TAXON MARRIAGES

Hokitika Guardian, 22 June 1932, Page 2

TAXON MARRIAGES

VICTORIAN LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL.

MELBOURNE, June 19.

In it search for further source ol revenue the State Ministry ha,.? broken entirely, new ground by deciding t' introduce legislation in the appro..filing season to impose a tax on marling.s and co abo.Ui • private registry offices. The Chief Secretary (Mr M.cfarlane) announced yciteruaj, that in addition to the abolition o the present system of solemnising civil marriages, the Ministry had decided to charge a fee of 5-; for every marriige celebrated in church. Should Parliament ratify this proposal it will he the fi’.eb time in the history of Victoria that such a tax has been imposed. The onlv other State in Au-;-

r.atia in which such a charge is made is Western Australia, where the fee is 2s (Id, payable to the Government by the clergyman, who deduct-? it from whatever gratuity lie received for performing the ceremony. The Victorian Ministry proposes, however, that the fee of 03 shall be collected by the clergyman and remitted, to the State Treasury. It is officially explained that the object of the fee is to cover the cost of registration and reording the marriage at the statist’s office, It is 'estimated that the revenue from the fees will he about £2750 a year.