CO129-615-3 Income tax 24-2-1948 - 12-8-1948 — Page 21

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On December 6th, 1947 Mr. W. F. Watson was appointed Assistant Commissioner on transfer from Fiji where he had been, for some

years, the Assistant Commissioner. On December 7th, Mr; P.D.A. Chidell, A. C.A., formerly an Examiner in the War Taxation Department and, since 1st April, 1947, an Assessor Grade I

and acting Assistant Commissioner, was appointed Assistant Commissioner, on promotion. In January, 1948 Mr. C.W. Norris

was appointed Assessor Grade I on transfer from the Income

Tax Department of Northern Rhodesia. He arrived in the Colony and assumed duty on 22nd January, 1948. At the end of the

year 1947/48 he was the only Grade I Assessor in the Department. 9. The following officers were appointed Assessors, Grade II, on 1st April, 1947:-

Mr. F.D. Angus Mr. B.I. Bickford Mr. R.B. Wood

Mr. W.J. Darby

Mr. G. C. Dudley

Mr. J.G. Cater was appointed to this grade on 23rd March, 1948.

10. For the greater part of the year therefore the

Department had one Acting Assistant Commissioner instead of

two substantive holders of that rank. During the whole of

the year there was never more than one Assessor Grade I available

instead of seven and throughout the year there has been a

shortage of three Assessors Grade II. This latter shortage

was reduced to two only in the last week of the year. The

prospects of an early improvement in the senior staff situation

are far from good.

.11. With regard to local staff, it was gratifying to

find that most of the staff of the former War Taxation Department

who were still available applied for transfer to the Inland

Revenue Department on its inauguration. Their previous exper

ience, added to that of Mr. Chidell, was of inestimable value

in the devising and setting up of the new Department.