STAMP DUTIES ACT.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 705, 1 September 1870, Page 2

STAMP DUTIES ACT.

Mr Kynneraley, in moving a motion stamping in his name in connection with the suhject, said that he had just heard that it was the intention of the Government to bring in a Bill on the subject, so that he would not detain the Rouso with any lengthened remarks. The present state of the Stamp Duties Act was so complicated and technical, that ordinary men, without taking legal advico "on the matter, could not avail themselves of it. On' the West Coast the miners could not always got the impressed paper, and they were continually making agreements with regard to the

transfer of mining property. They had either no stamps at all, or used the wrong stamps, and when disputes about those matters came before the Wardens or Resident Magistrates, the Court was placed in the unfortunate position of being either obliged to admit an illegal document or do an injustice. That was a most unsatisfactory state of aaffirs. With regard to mining property, the ad valorem system of duties was, in many cases, quite impracticable. In regard to the transfer of mining property, the stamp used was according to the value of the property transferred. The transfer of a share or half-share was often made on condition that the other party would supply provisions until sold was found, and as it was impossible to know the value of the claim, they -did not know what the proper stamp would amount to. In some cases of agreements as to a transfer of a part of a claim, and the supply of water, which were to exist but for a few days, the miners were obliged to put on the 10a; stamp required tor documents not otherwise specified in the schedule of the Act. Mr Gillies, in seconding the motion, could cordially support the remarks made by the hon. member for Wcstland North in regard to the extreme inconvenience, not merely with regard to the mining community, but in regard to the community generally, especially those who were not living in the centres of population, arising from the unsatisfactory state of things existing under the present Stamp Duties Act. He was very glad to hear that the Goverument were contemplating some amendment in the Act.

Motion made,and question proposed, " That this House is of opinion that the Stamp Duties Act should be so amended as to legalize the use of adhesive, instead of impressed stamps, upon all documents relating to mining property." Mr Vo«el said there was not the slightest doubt that the stamp duties generally were an awful nuisance, and there was no more unpopular officer than the Commissioner of Stamps, in every part of the country, among all persons who used stamps. With reference to the motion of the honorable member for Westland North, he might state the course the Government proposed to adopt was to legalize the adhesive stamp for mining deeds, but not to such an extent as to offer any inducement to persons not to purchase impressed stamps. It was proposed that if an adhesive stamp were used on a deed, the document, in order to be legal, should be sent to the stamp office to be stamped. The Government would make it as easy as possible for persons to send such documents to be stamped. Although he had every desire to facilitate the business of the miners, he did not see his way to do more than he had now stated. There were strong departmental objections raised to the motion. The only object the Government had was to insure that the amount, which ought to be collected by law, should be collected. Mr Kynnersley hoped that, when the Bill was introduced, it would be simple and intelligible, and that, provision would be made for the use of an adhesive stamp of uniform value. This would not only be a great convenience to the public, but would yield an increase to the revenue. Motion agreed to."