Income Taxation in BSIP

A Chance for the Small Settler

Income Taxation in BSIP to be Overhauled

“Private enterprise is welcome in the British Solomon Islands Pro tectorate,” said Sir Robert Stanley (High Commissioner for the Western Pacific) who arrived in Sydney on December 18. He has just returned from a’flying visit to the United Kingdom to urge that the needs of his territories for development finance be considered when allocations are made under the new Colonial Development and Welfare Act to cover the next five years.

SIR ROBERT told the PIM that it was high time that the notion, (which seemed to have gamed some currency) that the Protectorate [Government ha d placarded the British Solomons with a series ot ‘keep out” signs, was firmly and

anally scotched.

The BSIP Government’s Trade Scheme was started, he said, not be cause the Government wanted to trade, but because it had to create i trading organisation to provide m essential need which would otherwise have been unfilled.

“The Government will not con ;inue to operate the Trade Scheme, Sir Robert said, “any longer than is necessary to enable it to oner i reasonably attractive commercial Deposition to potential bidders.

Meanwhile the Scheme receives no special privileges or preferential treatment.”

Sir Robert said that his proposals for the development of the Pro tectorate had had a very sympa thetic reception from the Secretary Df State, who fully understood the special nature of the Protectorate s problems. “It is not yet possible, tie added, “to give final figures of the allocations to be made to the Western Pacific Territories from Colonial Development and Welfare Funds, but I hope that these may be known within two or three months, and I am sure that the Secretary of State will do his best for us.”

Questioned about income tax, Sir Robert said that he had dis cussed income tax and surtax questions with the Secretary of state and his senior officials. As a result of his talks in London the way had been opened for some over haul of the operation of the present income tax system. “Details will be discussed with Mr. Macleod-Smith, the Financial Secretary, who is due in England very shortly.”

Sir Robert added that he had also discussed possible ways of stimulating the development of new enterprises. He found the Secretary of State sympathetic and this matter also will be carried further with Mr. Macleod-Smith, in Eng land.

Discussing general conditions in

BSIP, Sir Robert said that the soil and climate were suitable for most kinds of tropical agriculture, and

land rents were not high. The Gov ernment was anxious to encourage the development of cocoa and there were probably as good prospects in this field as in any.

“There is a Government scheme,”

Sir Robert said, “for the provision of financial assistance by way of loans to the small man who may be in need of extra capital. We are planning to improve local com munications and port facilities so as to reduce the cost of handling and transporting produce and to give better passenger communica tions among the islands. For the man who is prepared to take his coat off and get down to a job of work, for the man ready to blaze a trail, I believe that there are good prospects Of SUCCeSS.” (Over)

I The PIM asked; “Do you think he Colonial Office really appreci tes conditions in the British lolomons?”

“I am quite sure that the Colonial Office is keenly alive to essential onditions and needs,” Sir Robert aid. “And I believe that the de ailed background I have been able j supply has been useful. I am uite sure that the Colonial Office ill do its best to help us to achieve ur aim to put the Protectorate well nd truly on its feet. But neither ie Government nor the Colonial iffice can do this unaided. I myself ave faith in the future of the iritish Solomons and if others share , I believe that enterprise will not d unrewarded.”

Sir Robert’s plane was late and he spent only 12 hours in Sydney before leaving for Lae and Honiara on December 18. tl Miss Florence Wilks, after spend ing a few months on the staff at

Torgil Girls’ School, is now teach ing at S. Hilda’s School, Bunana, in the Solomons. if Bishop Arkfeld, Roman Catholic Bishop of Wewak, New Guinea, left for America on December 11 for a six months’ visit.