BSI Residents Try Again

to Oust Income-Tax

Residents of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate are making another effort to rid themselves of income taxation. A petition signed by local residents, traders and business-men has been forwarded to the Secretary of State for the Colonies asking that income tax be removed.

THE power of the BSIP Govern ment to levy income tax was challenged in 1952 when some residents, on legal advice, refused to pay their tax.

Learned counsel held that the BSI was not a Sovereign State with the privilege of levying taxes, but a Protectorate, which governed only under an Order in Council and had power to legislate only for peace, order and good government.

It was realised, of course, that if the constitution was faulty in re gard to income tax, laws to remedy the situation would speedily be made. But it was hoped by chal lenging the power, to give publicity to the dissatisfaction of residents.

The case was finally brought be fore the Judicial Commissioner in Honiara in March, 1953, Mr. R. C.

Symes as president of the BSI Planters’ and Commercial Associa tion, being the nominal defendant.

The case was lost and an appeal was lodged. But subsequently the appeal was not proceeded with.

Copra is the BSIP’s only export industry and on this planters pay a high export tax. In addition, every one pays a high rate of in come tax. Income tax has pro duced a certain amount of revenue but it has done nothing to attract new capital, development or re sidents and consequently, in com parison with its neighbour, Papua- New Guinea, the BSIP remains a backwater. There have, of course, been endless complaints that the development of P-NG has not been pushed as vigorously as it might, but in comparison with the Pro tectorate the Territory flourishes.

No one in their right mind would begin new enterprises in the Solo mons if they could do the same thing in P-NG, and without the added burden of taxation. fl An Australian girl, Miss Anne Hendy-Pooley, who went to Noumea to do secretarial work with the South Pacific Commission, will marry the Vice-Consul for the US in Noumea at the end of October. He is Mr. John Wheeler, of Peoria, Illinois, USA. The couple will live in Noumea until January, when Mr.

Wheeler’s term will be completed.

They will return to America for three months before he receives his next posting.