On Norfolk

Tax Time Again

Island

From Merval Ho Are,

on Norfolk Island Norfolk Island residents pay no income tax. Their only direct taxation is paid under the Public Works Ordinance, which states that men between 21 and 55 who have lived on the island for six months must pay between $lO and $2O a year, depending on the number of dependants —or in lieu of payment to perform

public works over a period of

from five to 10 days as the Ad ministrator directs.

Calls are made half-yearly, in May and October, so shortly the familiar lists containing the names of those called will appear on the Court House door at Kingston and the door of the Burnt Pine Post Office, as well as in the main stores.

The work allotted is usually road maintenance and the clearing of noxious weeds from the roadsides and reserves. The workers must provide their own transport and bring their own tools.

Nevertheless, very few Norfolk citizens do public work these days.

It’s business as usual for the shop keepers and their assistants when the public works calls are posted up.

They pay up

Those in regular employment prefer to pay the $2O a year rather than absent themselves from lucrative occupations to work on the roads.

Retired men are seldom, if ever, seen on the roadsides attacking the lantana and tobacco bush with mattocks and slashers. All in all it seems cheaper and more convenient to pay than work. The Administration got $3,087 from this source in 1966.

But paying instead of working has not always been the case. In the old days, and in fact until comparatively recently, islanders and “mainlanders” turned out in force to do their allotted tasks.

The custom of public work is based on an old system of community labour which at one time involved nearly every able-bodied man over 18. The system has changed slightly

over the years but the principle is the same —community work on the public facilities.

Law No. 10 of the original Norfolk laws given by Governor Denison in 1857, required the Chief Magistrate to superintend the execution of all public works. This responsibility was later shared by the councillors. Also, fines levied by the Chief Magistrate could sometimes be worked out on the roads and this became a popular way of meeting such obligations.

How it has altered

A wide variety of tasks once came under the heading of public work.

Apart from the obvious tasks of repairing roads, bridges and piers the men were occasionally employed in fencing the cemetery, planting marram grass at Kingston to prevent erosion, and clearing the streams.

When an attempt was made to cut a passage into Emily Bay towards the end of last century the project was tackled as “additional public work”.

Reports reveal that in 1884 each man over 18 worked 3i days a month, for six months of the year, at public work. But later the men were allowed to choose between working or paying a small sum for each day not worked; in 1917 this rate was 4/- a day. As wages went up the rate increased until it reached today’s figure of S2O in lieu of 10 days work, which is rather un realistic.

Everybody in!

Public works lists were once almost completely filled with the names of Norfolk Islanders, but the recent influx of mainlanders has brought changes. Of the total of 295 men called up in the last public works call in October, 1967, only 80 were Norfolk Islanders.

Last year it was proposed in the Norfolk Island Council that women should be included in the public works calls. It was not suggested they should work on the roads but that they should contribute financially to the upkeep of the highways. This proposal was not followed up, but there is always the chance that some future council, desperately seeking new ways to raise revenue, will ap prove this measure and have it passed in Canberra. The next council elec tions will be held in July, but it would take considerable courage for any candidate to advocate public works levies for women. He would risk the loss of the women’s vote.