Farmers To Make A Tractor Survey

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31117, 21 July 1966, Page 11

Farmers To Make A Tractor Survey

With the aim of obtaining a reduction in tractor licensing fees, the North Canterbury branch of Federated Farmers will survey the number of tractors—both diesel and petrol—and auto headers in its district, and the amount of running they do on the roads.

The provisional executive, meeting in Christchurch yesterday, made this decision after receiving a letter from the transport officer at Federated Farmers’ headquarters (Mr J. C. Adams). North Canterbury recently protested at the increased fee for tractors, and a remit to Dominion headquarters, requested that steps be taken to obtain a reduction. In his letter to the provincial executive yesterday, Mr Adams said the £4 annual relicensing fee worked out at Is 6d a week, and because it was deductible for tax purposes, was a net lid a week. This amount, he said, would be recouped to the owner of a petrol tractor by the first four gallons used in the tractor each week 2jd being the amount of additional petrol tax rebate. In addition to this, all tractors petrol and diesel were being given greater rights of running on the roads which could not be measured in £.s.d. Referring to farmers with “four or five tractors,” as instanced recently by North Canterbury branch, Mr Adams said he would point out that if a motor vehicle was not taken on the road at all, it need not be registered, and the owner need not pay the third-party insurance premium of 4s a year a vehicle. Can Be Towed “Furthermore,” Mr Adams stated, “if a tractor is required to be taken to another property for work, it may be tow'ed along the road (unregistered) behind a registered tractor, and it is then construed as being a trailed farm implement. “The Minister (of Transport) has given an undertaking that if any anomolies appear under the change of regulations, he is prepared to look into them. We will need to learn, before taking up the matter again, how many fanners are affected by the changed regulations, and the extent of actual running on the roads by tractors, trailers and other farm vehicles. Survey Suggested "I would suggest that you! make a survey in your districtl to ascertain what running is in fact being done by these j diesel and petrol tractors un-| der the new freedoms granted i by the changed law. This! would permit a re-appraisal of | the whole situation, and would j permit us to make & case to

the Minister in response to his offer.” “There is a glaring anomoly, diesel tractor owners are not getting a fair go,” said a member. “Petrol tractor owners get the rebate, while diesel owners do not I think we should press for a reduction ion relicensing fee.” Mr R. E. Hiatt of Culverden, said petrol tractor owners were not really getting a rebate. They were getting a petrol tax refund, because their petrol was not being used in tractors which were helping to wear out the roads. Mr M. N. Watson moved that a survey be carried out in North Canterbury, but the meeting decided not to begin the survey until after’ the Dominion conference of Federated Farmers in Wellington shortly. In the meantime, the Sheffield branch will obtain some information on the question in its district.