MOTOR-CAR TAX.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1720, 10 April 1913, Page 4

MOTOR-CAR TAX.

WOODVILLE'S RESOLUTION. POINTS TO CONSIDER. (By AMraius.) Tho Woodvillo Borough Council lias taken tiio initiative in passing a. resolution regarding a lax on motor-cars and motor-cycles. The following is tho resolution:— "That in the opinion of this council tho Government should impose a moderate lax on motor-cars and motor-cycles, and that tho proceeds of such tax lie handed over to anil expended by the local bodies in maintaining and improving the roads affected by such traffic, a special board being set up lo allocate the distribution of tho proceeds of such tax, a higher tax being imposed on cars plying for hire." This proposal has been circularised, and has been duly considered by various borOn the wholo it has met with warm approval. Tho Hutt County Council, while approving of the resolution generally, decided that the word "moderate" before "tax" be deleted, and that tho words "composed of members of local authorities" be inserted after tho word "board." Most of tho other councils, who have considered the suggestion, have approved of it as it stands, and there is no doubt that prima facie the resolution appears plausible, and in the interests of motorists. But considering the number of boroughs involved there is no doubt that they could not all have a representative on the special board, if ono was set up. The idea would tie moro acceptable if tho board was composed of representatives of whole districts rather than of particular boroughs. If tho separate boroughs wish to have elective power, then why not let the boroughs of tho district elect ono man to represent their district? The duties of such a board, if set up, would 1» to allocate the proceeds of tho tax to be expended, "by local bodies in maintaining and improving the- roads affected by such traffic." 1 This is rather vague. It does not state in what /proportion or upon what basis tho' allocation is to lie made. In fact, just how to allocate tlie proceeds is a difficult problem to solve. Even supposing that the allocation was proportional to thq size of tho borough; or to tho number of motors registered therein, the further difficulty would arise as to which roads should be "maintained and improved." For instance, take tho Petono Borough, the only road much used by motorists is the.main road to,tho Hutt and practically all tho cars that go along that road aro registered in Wellington. supposing that with the money distributed to them tho Petoiio Council decided to improve and repair a street other than tho Hutt Road, little or never used by motorists. This would be hardly fair to the tax-payer, who, presumably, would pay tho tax for ono purpose only. Whilo this proposal was under discussion by the Karori Council at their Inst meeting,' one of tho councillors said that ho considered motors did more damage to tho roads than ordinary iron-shod vehicles. This (is by no, means certain, and not being an authority oh such matters tho councillor's opinion, except at his own council table, is not worth a great deal. On the other hand, a motorist dislikes a bad road much more than, the driver of non-mechanical vehicles, and the majority of motorists would bo willing, and even enthusiastic, to pay a tax, the proceeds of which will bo devoted 1 to improving roads they use. But generally speaking they use only the main roads. bo, considering the number of points, and space permits only a few to be hero mentioned, that are involved in the allocation of a motor tax it appears to be a , matter that requires a moro central handling than scattered boroughs' and diverse borough councils could possibly givo it. To be really effective a tax of tho description proposed would have to> be administered by a hoard interested, not in boroughs, but in main roads. Tho Woodvillo Council do not state how the tax is to be graduated. A motor-car does moro damage to tho road than a molor-cyclc, and a 60 li.p. racing motor more than 10 li.p. light runabouts. It would nob then be just to levy, a similar fax on all motorists. In mo-

lors are taxed according to their horse? power. 'J'lio lax per annum on motorcycles is .£1; on motor-cars .not exceeding fij h.|i., JSJ2 25.; not exceeding 12' ]iJJ3 35.; ami so on, according to a set scale up to .£2l for a GO cur, and X 42 for nny car of a horse-power exceeding <>l) li.p. This is recognised as being the fairest and best way of imposing a tax on motor vehicles. Cars plying for hire already have to have a special licenso just as any other vehicle under the same circumstances. However, the Woodvillo Council ,is to be congratulated for investigating a movement that may sooner or Inter have to ho seriously considered by the Government. Both the main roads connecting AVelling-' lon willi iho interior arc, to say the least, bad, and a good through rond from Wellington to Pnlmerston, for instance, would contribute to general progress. The growing use of motor vehicles behoves some authority to see that roads suitable for such modern traffic arc provided. With regard to city and borough streets the roads should bo good, motors or 110 motors, for if the motorist is asked to maintain them ho will ill turn naturally demand that other vehicles also bo taxed. However, before anything more definite is done, it is to bo hoped that the Motor Associations of tho Dominion will voico' their opinions. . •