Overtaxed

Resources Overtaxed

From a Rabaul Correspondent With the echoes of last year’s controversial High Court taxation

appeal still sounding faintly, the

New Guinea Taxpayers’ Asso ciation met quietly in July to take stock.

THE stock-take revealed that the association still owed £6OO of the £3,000 which the case had incurred.

It also revealed that the association did not have sufficient funds to meet even a fraction of the outstanding debt.

The money had been owed for about a year to a firm of solicitors which includes the name of a Mr.

Patience in its title. “And the firm has certainly earned its name,” quip ped an executive member of the Tax payers’ Association.

One fact was uppermost among the members of the executive, however— the position could have been a great deal worse.

A drive for funds was organised to liquidate the amount, and was meet ing with some success by the middle of the month.

The bulk of the money was coming from the renewal of membership sub scriptions, well bolstered by a series of unsolicited donations. The Tax payers’ Association of Papua also threw in a cheque for £lOO, but there was some feeling among New Guinea taxpayers that the amount could have oeen greater, “We fought the case on a share and share alike basis,” com mented a New Guinea man. . Until two years ago there was no income tax in Papua and New Guinea, and there was a public outcry when Australia introduced taxation to the

territory.

Groups of taxpayers throughout the territory, working mainly through the New Guinea Taxpayers’ Association p the Taxpayers’ Association of apua, banded together to oppose

toe move.

With Rabaul accountant Mervyn Wallace Fishwick as their nominal l ey fought the tax through • Court of Australia. Money r the legal fight poured in—more an £l,OOO in one week alone—but costs of the action swallowed up

ne money.

When the taxpayers lost their

action they were also faced with the costs of the Commonwealth of Australia in fighting the case.

Meanwhile the associations are still operating strongly in a capacity as advisers to taxpayers. The New Gumea association in particular is very active. Its executive meets regularly and makes submissions to the P- NG Department of the Treasury in an attempt to iron out taxation problems. Three members of the executive are experienced tax agents, and their advice is proving valuable.