THE PROPERTY ASSESSMENT

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 175, 23 November 1880, Page 4

THE PROPERTY ASSESSMENT

IMPORTANT ACTION. Before Messrs Jonas Woodward and T. j Kebbcll, J.R.'s, atthoßesident.Magistrate's j Court, Wellington, MrC. M. Crombie, the .Property Tax Deputy Commissioner for the Wellington District, appeared in support of three informations against persons who, though liable to taxation under the Property ! Assessment Act had, it was alleged, wilfully ! neglected to furnish statements of their pro- ! party within the prescribed time, to wit, j before the 25th October last. Mr E. 11. Crease was first proceeded against, the informations against Messrs J. Young and .1. Saunders being adjornod till the 14th prox, in consequence of the absence of those gentleman at the Melbourne Exhibition. Mr

Crease, who was not represented by counsel admitted that lie had failed to furnish the necessary statement within the prescribed time, but added that the omission was unintentional on his part and had since been rectified. Mr Crombie briefly described the circumstances of the ease, after which Mr Bel! on hohaif of the Crown intimated that he did not wish to press for anything beyond the minimum penalty provided in the third section which state!l that the defendant “shall on proof thereof before any two justices of the peace be j assessed and charged treble the amount of of the tax of which such person lias sought to evade the payment, in addition to any tax for which such person would have been Otherwise liable ; and every such person shall also be liable to forfeit and pay a penalty of not loss than £.> or more than £loo.'’ 'I he Bench said they had no alternative but to inflict a penalty, which, however, would be the minimum one they were able to impose, viz., a fine of £5 in addition to an order to pay treble the amount of the tax, in addition to that for which the defendant was originally liable. Mr Bell did not ask for costs.—/W.