PETROL TAX.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 224, 21 September 1928, Page 8

PETROL TAX.

ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.

COUNCIL INDIGNANT

TAKING A BACK SEAT

Indignation waa * expressed at the monthly meeting of the Waite-mata County Council at the proposal of the Main Highways Board in regard to the allocation of the petrol tax to be payable in respect of districts adjacent to Auckland City—Nos. 1 and 2 Councils Highways On the AucklandHamilton road the allocation is 7.5 per cent, and on the road north wards through the County of Woitemata 25 per cent.

It was stated that a decision liad been arrived at after a conference with the Auckland Automobile Association, and considerable weight was being given by the Highways Board to the recommendation of the association. It waa felt that the local bodies should have been primarily consulted.

The matter has been taken up by all the counties north of Auckland and a protest made. The council has now been advised that the Auckland Automobile Association was consulted by direction of tlie Prime Minister and it was considered by the A.A.A. and Main Highways Board that it was more important that connection should be made between Hamilton and Auckland, than that further radial roads should be improved. The board therefore thought that no further good would be obtained by pressing the point further, seeing that great assistance was being given to the county on the Heleneville road, which might be constructed a« far as Huapai well within the five years. It was felt that, aa the mandate of the Prime Minister is that properly-con-stituted local .bodies elected by the people should take a back seat to the motorists' association, the letter could only be received.