AUTOMOBILE UNION.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16856, 9 June 1920, Page 8

AUTOMOBILE UNION.

PROPOSAL TO MINISTER. . BIG EEFOKMS ADVOCATED. TUo following communication lias been addressed to the Minister 01 Internal Affairs by tho Now Zealand Automobile Union: — As a fresh session of Parliament will soon be taking place, my union desires to lay before you its views upon certain matters which it would appear are in need of immediate legislative attention. In this Ave are joining (by invitation) and supporting tho 3lotor Garago prictors' Association (incorporated). It must be readily apparent to your Government that there lias, of late, been an enormous increase in tiie motor industry in tiiis I>ominion, and it would seem that the time has now arrived to amend, modify, or standardise somo of the laws and regulations at present existing relating to motor traffic, if this most'important industry is to progress and develop upon sound lines. TAXATION. To find money for better roads a tax must inevitably be levied; it inus-t, of course, be additonal to all present systems of raising road revenues, and should be assessed upon all the different classes of vehicle which ueo the roads. As to the basis upon which this taxation shall be framed many opinions have been put forward, such as: (a) Tax by horse-power, 11.A.C. rating; (b) tax by horse-power, Treasury rating (.English); (c) tax by weight; (d) tax by a combination of weight and power ; (e) tax on fuels; (f) tax on tyres (i.e., tyres for self-propelled vehicles). In considering the various methods, the New Zealand Union has all along assumed that any tax on horse-drawn vehicles would probably bo deeply resented, though why it is (in strict equity) is difficult to see. It has been argued that the proccods of any such tax as now proposed would go to road improvement as distinct from road maintenance, and that as far as horse-drawn vehicles are concerned read maintenance is all that is necessary. This argument might with somo show of reason bo admitted in the case of light vehicles, but not in that of heavy ones, ■which dp considerable damage to roads, and should be, by some method, included in any general scheme. My union has been guided by what it believes to be a thoroughly sound principle, namely, that taxation must be based upon the use of the veliiclo, and not merely upon its possession. Therefore we submit that the tax should be by way of an ad valorem Customs duty upon imported tyres of all descriptions. As to tho amount of that duty my union is not prepared to offer any official opinion, though it would seem that, taking the Board of Trade returns as a guide, an import duty of from 10 per cent to 15 per cent, would produce .about £100,000 per annum, which-sum would, of course, increase in proportion to tho increase in imports necessitated by the development of the motor trade. I will not at this stage burden you with the details of this matter, as my union will in all probability ask to be .heard specially on this subject when it comes up for action I must, however, ask you to bear in mind that my union has on more than one occasion publicly expressed its readiness to submit to reasonable, proper, and proportionate taxation, provided that tho amount is equitabld in the circumstancos, that it does not unduly burden the self-pro-pelled vehicle as against the other road users, and, finally, that the money raised is expended upon the maintenance and improvement of the roads of the Dominion in a manner hereafter to be determined. ROADS. Regarding the roads of the Dominion it will, I mi sure, be within your recollection that many representations hrve already been made asking for the establishment of a national highways board to assume the control of the highways of the Dominion. What are highways or main arterial roads this proposed body would have to decide by a system of classification. Several different theories have been put before Ministers 'from time to time, but the svstem most favoured up to the present appears to be that in voguo in the state of Victoria (Australia). "As tho question of reform in the roading system of the Dominion is a very large and special one, I will content myself just now by saying that it is hero mentioned by way of reminder of what has been said on other occasions, and must, I take it, be said again very shortly, but in a more detailed forin. REGISTRATION. With regard to the registration of motor vehicles I think it is clear not only to my union, but. also to all motor traders and local authorities, that the Motor Regulation Act at present or. tho Statute Book requires very rad«-jJ amendment. In a Motor Bill introduced by Sir Francis Bell in 1914, provision was made for the establishment of a central registry having branches in th-3 principal parts of the Dominion which would register annually all motor vehicles using the roads, and this would do away with tho confusion that has arisen by reason of the fact that any local body_ having sufficient- population •viay_ constitute itself a. registering authority, and the fees ar.d regulations made by these different authorities all vary considerably; further, no means exists for discovering the number of vehicles within the Dominion or even whether a vehicle is properly registered. At present there seems to be a division of opinion as to whether the registering authorities should be local bodies, or whether registration should be in the hands of the police, and my union rather the Police Department as the registering authority, as that is t!c> Department which would have, eventually.. to administer any Act. So many muddles and abuses exist under the present system as to merit the suggestion that it should be replaced at once by an entirely fresh Statute. BY-LAWS, Etc. One of the most important amendments that needs to be brought about is a revision of the system which gives local authorities power to make and enforce by-laws for the control of all classes of motor traffic. These by-laws vary very considerably in different parts-of New Zealand, and are not always characterised by good sense or equity. At an interview which took place some time ago between this union and the Hon. Mr Russell, when he was Ministor of Internal Affairs, Mr Russell stated that no power existed at that time to enforce anv degree of uniformifcv upon local bodies, and that some amending legislation would be necessary to enablo him to draft and put into force a set of model _ by-laws which would produce the desired uniformity. Wo have not heard anything further of j this proposal. The Now Zealand Union, and. indeed, all users of the pub- I lie roads would be glad to have some- I thing done to remedy this trouble so I that travellers might know, with some degree of certainty, what wero the regulations to which they were expected to conform. There is one other matter connected with legislation to which I desire to refer, and that is the application of the law relating to what are known as second-hand dealers. This !ia.s latterly been extended to cover certain dealings in motors._ and it is submitted that the application of a law to i matter for whicfi it was not primarily iesirmed is productive of unnecesary lilf culties and hindrances to bona-fide trade. The motor garago proprietors ire making special representations to .-on on this point, and I desire to sav :hafc mv union is in entire accord with -heir views, and wishes to support the •ecommendations they make. My union ilso desires to accord its support to the

motor garage proprietors in their recommendations regarding traffic regulations for the better safety of the public. Regulations of the kind suggested have already been advocated by mv union and its affiliated associations. CONSULTING THE UNION. Finally, I would ask that in all cases of proposed amendments to existing law, or of new legislation in any way affecting the rights of motorists (.either prirate motorists or traders), my union and the other motor organisations which may bo affected thereby should bo heard on t'e questions before or during their submission to Parliament. Questions affecting the motor industry as a \Vhole affect this union also, for it must not bo supposed that my union is formed for the sole benefit of those persons who are miscalled "pleasure motorists." The New Zealand Union exists, primarily, to watch and promote legislation affecting tho mechanical transport of the Dominion, and this comprises every class in any way concerned in the present and future welfare of all self-pro-pciled vehicles.