No Profit In It!
pp. 35-36 · Read in the full issue
markable Taxation Figures of Fiji Indian Business
Prom Our Own Correspondent
Suva, Jan. 27
IE latest issue of Fiji Informa tion, a summary of official statistics, gives figures of the ony’s taxation. (The principal jes were published in the ember PIM). he tabulated figures in Fiji In nation include the following de s of company taxation in 1950: uropean, Trading £636,139; pping and Insurance, £15,009; al, £651,148. idian, Trading £629; Shipping I Insurance, £1.008; Total, £1,637.
Unofficial statisticians (mostly
Europeans) have been at work on the Indian returns. One of them has pointed out that as company taxation is set at 6/3 in the £, it follows that all the registered In dian companies in Fiji between them amassed the truly amazing profit of £2,012 in 1950.
This has drawn the obvious comment that something appears to be wrong with either the business acumen or the honesty of a good many Indian companies, and it has been hopefully suggested that the Suva, Lautoka and Labasa Indian Chambers of Commerce might be persuaded to make a statement.
With the arrival of the income tax-return season again it can only be reiterated that the extent of
Asiatic tax-dodging in Fiji would be regarded as a major national scandal in any other British country.
Mr. C. D. Bates, one of Papua- New Guinea’s senior District men, has returned to Madang as District Commissioner, after long leave. His length of service entitled him to retirement and Port Moresby feared that he might be lost to the Ad ministration at a difficult time. His decision to return was welcomed by all classes.
Mr. S. M. Haq. Press Attache to the Pakistan High Commissioner in Australia, paid a short official visit to Fiji in January.
Mr. Julian Dashwood who, under the pen name of “Julian Hillas” gave early PIM readers interesting and amusing glimpses of Cook Islands history (see first ten years of PIM), was in Auckland on leave in January. He now is trade-store manager for A. B. Donald & Co., on Mauke Is.