PROPERTY ASSESSMENT BILL.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 481, 3 December 1879, Page 2

PROPERTY ASSESSMENT BILL.

We have not been furnished as yet with a CO py of tlit* above Bill, and as it is a matter in which every settler takes a lively interest, WC five the following summary of tho Bill Trom the S r ew Zeahuuhr “Ail property within t he Colony to which any person is entitled shall be iiaole to taxation in resnect of so much of the \a!ue thereof as shall exceed £3-j0 sterling, but subject to the exemptions and to the deductions hereinafter provided. Every company will be liable to taxation on iti

‘capital, the balance of assets over liabilities. Every banking company will bo liable to taxation. A coni) any having Us principal office in tiie Co ony, or principally carrying bn business ' there!i, to be “ assessed on the amount of its capital actually paid'up, added to the amount ot the accumulated''undivided prolits thereof.” A company, the principal office whereof is not within the Colony, or not principally carrying bn business therein, l ' shall be assessed on a "sum equaldo one-eighth of the total ‘amount of their assets and liabilities in New Zealand," as shewn in Ga/.etted returns. For the 'purposes of the Aot every company, including banking and insurance companies carrying on business in New Zealand, shall be represented by a person residing in the Colony, to be designated the“ Public Officer "of the company, suen officer to be answerable for due observance of the Act so far as pertains to the company he represents. Ageius or trustees for absentees will be assessed in respect of property or trusts represented, but will be authorised to recover from •principals all taxes levied under the Act. Mortgagors may recover tax or mortgaged lands from mortgagees. In cases ot con ■joint ownership or occupancy of land the interests of every person in such property will be separately assesed. Certain properties are to be exempt from taxation, viz, ':—Property of the Crown or local body, 'or of societies not formed wholly or mainly purpose of gain or profit, all and buildings or property held for charitable, education, or recreative purposes ; also all property of Maoris, and all property held in reversion, remainder or expectancy, with certain exceptions. Tli3 interest of the occupiers of any real propei ty exempt from taxation, and also of European occupants of Maori lands, will be liable to assessment.

One month's notice will be given to the public to furnish returns of ail real and personal property. Every person owning ‘ any properly must apply for forms, and 'must fill them up accurately with particulars of the description, situation, and value of real and personal property of every kind and from every source, also of ail mortgages, encumbrances, and charges secured thereon, and of all debt's owing, and to this must be added a declaration that the same is true and accurate in all particulars. Such statements a r e to be forwarded ly post to the Deputy Commissioner of the district, and new assessment of property will be''made every three yea's. 'Any Assessor may enter at any reasonable liour during the day upon any land or premises to make inspection, and may ask the occupier or owner any questions touching any of the particulars thereof, and if an assessment is considered unfair or unjust the Commissioner may direct another assessment to be made by any person whom be may select for the

purpose. Assessment rolls are to bo prepared, and time for objections to be advertised, but the Deputy Commissioner shall not suffer the assessment roll to be inspected ly any person, but may answer enquiries in relation thereto of those persons only whose names are on any roll, and in respect only of the property for which such persons are assessed. (All officers appointed under the Act are sworn to secrecy, and for breach of intent of oath are subject to imprisonment.) Every -person liable to taxation Will receive a seined notice in writing.

A: list of ill 1 objections will be entered in tiie “ Objection Book,” and the Commissioner, after due enquiry, may allow snob objection,'but all objections nut so allowed will be sent to the Board of lieviewers to hear and determine. The Governor may appoint Reviewers, of whom 1 lie Commissioner may be one. Any three Reviewers may form a Board, and for each district there may be appointed as many Boards of Reviewers as may bo deemed necessary. Meetings of the Boards will not be deemed public, ana the Reviewers may at any time exclude all or any persons from such meetings Tlie duties of the Boards will be to examine witnesses on oath, call for persons and papers, and deteunine all objections, ami in respect of such matters will have all the powers and authorities conferred by “The Commissioners Bower Act, 1807,” and the Amendment Act, 1872. The decision of the Board of Reviewers on all objections’, and on all 'other matters coming within its cognisance, relating to the assessment roll, will be final and con elusive’. Bower will be given to the Commissioner at any time to add to or amend any assessment roll in force ; every person affected by such amendment or alteration shall be entitled to object and have Ids objection beard before any Resident Magistrate who, for the purpose of this particular section of, the Act, will have all the powers of a Board of Reviewers ami the Chairman thereof.

The Governor may appoint Receivers or Collectors of Taxes. The time and place for payment in each district will be notified, and if any person fails to pay within the space of fourteen days after demand by notice in writing, ten per centum on the amount unpaid will be added thereto. Where no sufficient distress ban be levied on goods or chattels, the land whereon tax is due and unpaid may be sold after six months’ notice’. The proceeds of such sale to be first appropriated to the payment of such tax, and the balance to be paid into the Bublic Trust Office; and thereafter shall be paid by the Trustee, upon the order of the Supreme Court, to such person as may be entitled thereto, with interest thereon not exceeding live per cent, per annum. The Commissioner is enabled by the Act to give a title to land thus sold. Summons on any unknown owner may be posted on land, and judgment may be given against “ owner ” where name is unknown. If the owner of land liable to taxation fails to pay, the Commissioner may recover from the tenant, who in his turn may recover from the owner, together with all costs of proceedings attending recovery. When any person chargeable with the tax dies, Ids dr her trustee will be .held liable; and hiay, in" default of payment, be proceeded against. In the term “ trustee,” is also included the parents of an infant. If too little tax is paid in any instance, the Commissioner may recover the balance, and where too much is paid, the Commissioner shall refund. Penalties of not less than £5, nor exceeding £IUO, are prescribed for any evasion, of taxation. Abettors in any such evasion may be fined up to £so,’ as tilsb any biie

obstructing officers in discharge of duty under tin; Act.- False declarations will be treated as perjury, but the (inventor may, at his discictiuii, mitigate or comp >uml proceedings for any penally.