Land Tax Declared Void.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XXXIII, Issue 6079, 15 July 1897, Page 2

Land Tax Declared Void.

' IBy Electric Telegraph—Copyright.] (Fet Prtsa Association.) ! Sydney, July 14. ■ The Chief Justice of the Equity ■ Court h«s given his decision in the appeal against the land tax assessment , ou the grounds that the assessment was issued before the Court of Review was appointed and before the assessment books we-e completed. The Judge held that the Commissioner acted illegally in issuing the taxation notices before ih6 books were completed, and that suoh con-completion rendered the tax wholly void and in- I operative as far as the 1896 taxation was concerned. His Honor ordered that the Commissioner be restrained from collecting the tax until the Aot was complied with, and gave a verdict for the plaintiffs I with costs. Tho decision will have important and wide-reaching consequences. It is understood that the assessment books nro not even yet cjmpleted. If this proves correct the whale of the land assessments will be rendered inoperative. The Cabinet will consider the situ- i I ation.

In the Legislative Assembly the odt journnwnt was moved to discuss the 3 taxation decision. I A worm attack is proceeding against r the Government and tbe Commissioners i for creating tbe muddle. .