Inspectors

Fiji Needs More Taxation Inspectors Comment on Indian Tax Returns

From Our Own Correspondent

Suva, Mar. 24.

rHE short article in February PIM (page 33) on the tax revenue or lack of it) derived from registered ndian companies in Fiji has received nuch local comment.

The figures quoted were the latest ivailable, but there was nothing par icularly new or sensational about he disclosures. Similar figures have >reviously been printed in PIM and ivery year the same information is ivailable to anybody who cares to lote it in Government reports and he useful and always informative )fficial quarterly called Fiji Infor nation.

It has now been pointed out that it intervals over the years, in the -egislative Council and outside, jovernment officials concerned with he Colony’s finances have deplored, n discreet terms, the fact that there s a large hole in the taxation bag. -ocal residents feel that somebody hould “do something about it.”

The Inland Revenue Department s probably doing as much as can >e done with a staff hopelessly in idequate to cope with the major

)roblem of tax-dodging individuals

ind groups.

If every Asiatic trader were com piled to keep proper books, an irmy of tax-snoopers would be re tired to keep an eye on them. As hings are, most of the limited num ber of Asiatic traders and shop keepers who do keep any sort of )ooks at all, do not keep them in

English.