Tax Reduced!

Papua Gives a Lead

From Our Own Correspondent

Port Moresby, July 3.

TO-DAY, by proclamation, the Government reduced the primage duty from 4 per cent, to 2½ per cent, ad valorem as from July 1, 1935.

The duty was imposed as an emergency measure in July, 1931, when the Terri tory’s finances, as a result of the depres sion, were in a bad way.

The Territory’s revenue had not im proved very much up to June 30, 1934, but in the last 12 months there has been a considerable improvement and the Gov ernment has lost no time in removing the special taxation burden. In this respect, it is probably unique among the Govern ments of the world.

The following figures show the total of the Papuan revenue over recent years: 1927- £158,267 1928- £145,147 1929- £149,264 1930- £134,917 1931- £130,116 1932- £127,043 1933- £121,147