MOTORING AFFAIRS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 23, 22 October 1920, Page 10

MOTORING AFFAIRS

« LETTER TO PRIME AIINISTEK. A lengthy letter, summarising the. views of (he New 7,ea!niid Automobile Union upon the questions of motor taxation, the construction of roads, motor registration and Heensftig, by-laws, aifd lighting, lias been forwarded to the Prime Minister by tho secretary of the union (Air. W. Bemieliamp-l'latts) The letter suggests that some definite effort slioute noiv be made by the Government to deal with the matters submitted. The union considors that speedy legislation is necessary if the future of tho motor industry in this'country in to receive oven a propoition of tho attention which its magnitude and iinporfnnco demand While not. claiming that precedence should be given to the mattera raised, it is urged that tho time has arrived when a comprehensive revision of existing statutes shculd be undertaken in the direction of consolidation and amendment, with such lew legislation as may be nccessary to deal with evident defects.

With regard to taxation, the letter points out that it is considered fit that the users of roads should bo the first section of the goneral public through whom a duo proportion of the needed revenue should bo raised. The second section should comprise all those property owners whose property abuts on or is near improved roads. These should pa,/, in proportion to their contiguity, their just share of the direct or indirect benefit thoy derive. At tho last anminl' meeting of tho union it was suggested that a tyre-tax should be levied on the following lxisis: —For pneumatic tyres, 15 per cent, ad valorem; for solid tyres, 20 per cent ud valorem. Tho union estimates that at least ,£IGG,GGG could be produced as .taxation revenue from motorists, and, although not a large sum, it wuild furnish adequate interest and sinking fund upon a loan of approximately tw.) and three-quarter millions. Taxpayers under this sehome would bo paying for construction only, and on a permanent basis with proper and pasting mnli'rinl. The maintenance of such n road would lie very much less than at present, and should rightly be borne as at .present. In putting forward. the claim that a national, highways board should be set up, tho letter stated that tho union is ol opinion that so far as may be consistent with the proper control of th? beard it should bo as freo as possible from all political influences, and should consist of very highly qualified pereons having technical knowledge of thj> contributory interests involved. Tho union further submits that upon tho establishment of tho board and the fixing of the taxation neoessary to produce its revenue, all other forms of motor taxation should be abolished. Tho only reservation should be tho special annual tax on heavy vehicles and tho nominal fees pnvable under tho heading of annual license and motor registration. Tho prohibition of additional taxation should also be extended to cover the erection of tol bars, a system to which tho union U very definitely opposed. ' Tho union aslis that, the present JPotor Hegulntion Act bo recast and that U:» registration of vehicles of every class should be insisted upon, annually; also that tho Government introduce a system of licensing all drivers of oolf-propellod vehicles. No licenses should l>e granted to persons under 1G or 18 years of ajje. After condemning the traffic by-laws of most local bodiss as being muddled and unsatisfactory, the letter suggests the framing of a model set of traffic by-laws to be imposed upon all local authorities, subject, however, to such a slight local variation as special circumstance may require. .