XN000022-1975-07-11 — Page 5

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FRIDAY, JULY 11, 1975

BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION FEES TO BE REVISED

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FEES FOR A BIRTH CERTIFICATE, AN INSPECTION OR ALTERATION OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS RECORDS ARE TO BE REVISED TO HELP OFFSET PART OF THE OPERATING COST OF THE BIRTHS. AND DEATHS REGISTRY WHICH FACES AN ESTIMATED $3.2 MILLION DEFICIT THIS YEAR.

THE REVISION IS PROPOSED UNDER THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1975 PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S GAZETTE,

THE BILL SEEKS TO INCREASE FROM $2 TO $5 THE FEE FOR THE POST-REGISTRATION OF A BIRTH WITHIN 12 MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF BIRTH AND FROM $15 TO $30 FOR BIRTH REGISTRATION AFTER THAT PERIOD.

IT ALSO PROPOSES TO INCREASE FROM $2 TO $5 THE FEE FOR A CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OR ALTERATION OF THE NAME OF A CHILD.

FOR AN ADDITION TO OR ALTERATION OF THE NAME OF A CHILD AFTER 42 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF BIRTH, A FEE INCREASE FROM $5 TO $20 IS PROPOSED.

THE BILL ALSO SEEKS TO INCREASE FROM $2 TO $5 THE FEE FOR A PARTICULAR SEARCH OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS RECORDS AND FROM $25 TO $30 THAT FOR A GENERAL SEARCH OF SUCH RECORDS,

OTHER FEES PAYABLE TO THE REGISTRY WILL ALSO BE REVISED.

THE PROPOSED INCREASES ARE EXPECTED TO RAISE AN EXTRA

$500,000 A YEAR.

COMMENTING ON THE FEE REVISION, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID: *THE PROPOSED PERCENTAGE INCREASE MAY SEEN HIGH, BUT THE.COST IN TERMS OF MONEY TO INDIVIDUALS IS LOW.+

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HE NOTED THAT EVEN WITH THE PROPOSED INCREASES. PUBLIC FUNDS WILL STILL HAVE TO SUBSIDISE THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRY TO THE EXTENT OF ABOUT $2.7 MILLION A YEAR.

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