Motorists To Press For Its Removal

Chronicle (Levin), 27 September 1947, Page 4

Motorists To Press For Its Removal

Press Association)

(Per

CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 26. " I would recommeud to the Motor Uuions iu New Zealand that they cone.entxate their effort^ to relief of the petrol tax, ' ' said Mr. M. H. Wynyard, a member of the Maia .Highways Board, when reporting to th-e jannual meeting of the Sonth. Island Motpr Union this morning, The 4d tax had been put ,on petrol for war purr poses, he added, and the Motor Union had fair claims to have it removed. "Any paidiament which could colleet a tax such as that on petrol, coujd keep on increasing it," said Mr. P. W. Breen (Otago) who added that the original •' idea- of the tax had been agreed to so that the money obtained could be speut ou highways maintenance. "If'we are goiug to be at the whim of the Treasury in the expenditure of tha.t money, then I think it is unfair and unreasOnable that the motorists' money should be put into the poekets of the Government for generai purposes, " said Mr. Breen. "I appreciate the policy of motorists in New Zealand in the way they have been tackling' this cjuestion of remov* ing the petrol tax," said Mr. F. W. Freeman (Canterbury). "I lcnow that a good case has been put up but we have failed in impressing the Government with our case." "Are we to get our just proportion

out of the funds obtained from this tax?" asked Mr. G. Hamilton (Canterb'ury). "I would like to see iy elear-cut f'uud for the Highways Board and not jnst one big blanket." A motion by Mr. H. J. Main (North Otago). to be presented to all members of Parliament, "that this conference requests tlȣ,t the tax of 4d a gallon on petrol imposed in I989 for defence purposes, be removed without further delay, and that the Government be requested to give an assurauce that the minimum contribution annually to the funds of the Main Highways Board be not less than the total taxation cqlleeted from motorists each year," was passed.