Papua And Gold

Tax

Why Money Should Remain There

From Our Own Correspondent

Port Moresby, Dec. 20.

ISEE that New Guinea is objecting strongly to Australia commandeering the war-tax on gold (50 per cent, of the value in excess of £A9 per oz.).

Their objections should have some force owing to that condition of the Mandate whereby all moneys collected must be devoted exclusively to the ser vice of the territory.

In Papua, objections to the tax are being raised also, for Papua has been put to considerable expense over defence and other matters, especially since the outbreak of war, and urgently needs funds to meet the growing demands of a growing population. Administrative work has increased generally in the last two years not only with defence matters, but with the opening up of the interior, where oil companies are prospecting.

The amount involved in the tax in Papua will be approximately £15,000 per annum The Papuan Administration will not gladly hand over this, its only plum ripe for picking, after all these long years of struggle to make ends meet.

It is true that Australia pays Papua a yearly subsidy; but, if Papua had been allowed a proportion of the quota of the Imperial sugar supply (instead of Its be ing kept for Queensland and Fin), the country would have had a prosperous in dustry to depend upon now, besides gold and rubber, and very likely would have been self-supporting.

Australia always is saying how gener ous she has been to Papua; but when one looks into the matter it is found that she has made few really helpful gestures.

I think it would be a very high-handed action to take this gold tax from Papua.

Refund Of Tax

Bona-fide prospectors in Papua and New Guinea are now entitled to a re fund of the new Commonwealth Gold Tax which they may pay on the first 25 ounces of gold sent in by them in any one year. To get the refund, they should make formal application to the Deputy Federal Commissioner of Taxation, Bris bane.