PETROL AND RATING

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 28, 3 February 1932, Page 13

PETROL AND RATING

FAKMEKS' PROPOSAL

AUTOMOBILE CLUB'S VIEWS

Strong exception to a suggestion made by ; Mr. L. Hammond (Hunterville) at a meeting of the Wellington Provincial Executive of tho Farmers' Union at Palnierston North, last Friday, and reported in the "Post" on Saturday night, that it was possiblel, .to, increase the petrol tax withou^iinqreasirig^tne price of petrol to the njbtbrist, -wa^taksn by Mr. E. A. Batt.vphamnan^of^vtheT Wellington Automobile'1 C.lub'}; at- the; monthly meeting on Monday.' ' 'Vjfe '\:'.V' At the meeting MrTßamniond moved a resolution favouring de-rating of farm lands. Mr. Batt quoted the followiug statement from the report of the meeting:— "Mr. Hammond stated that tho. whole question of de-rating farm lands had been held in abeyance and hu thought the time ripe for the subject to go forward again. De-rating would bring tremendous relief to the farmers. What was lost in rates could be made up by an additional petrol tax without making petrol any dearer to the motorist. He mentioned that a Wellington company was about to put petrol oh the market at Is lOd a gallon. That company was not doing it through love for affliction for the motorist. It was tout tpJinak? a profit, but was content ,^ i.'j accept a return of 2d a gallon by it at Is lOd. The Dominion prudent of the Farmers' Union had gone tion very closely, and was satisled that it could be done." Mr. Batt said that an amendment expressing the view that "immediate steps should be taken to de-rate- the farm lands of the Dominion, for all roading purposes was carried, the original motion being lost. "While we realise to the fullest extent the serious position-that many farmers are placed in as a result of •the international depression, we feel that the motorists of New Zealand have already contributed very fairly.,towards relieving the land burdens of the farming community," said Miy Batt. "For instance, £250,000 of motorists' money has been allocated to reducing rural lands by 124 per cent, and a further £.200,000 has been paid into tho consolidated fund. ■ ... . "Motoring organisations throughout New Zealand have already made it quite clear that they, are vigorously opposed to the principal of \the de-rating of farm lands by the imposition of; increased petrol taxation, on the grounds that it is relieving one class of- the community at the expense p£. the other." ' , %V p After some discussion it was agreed to submit a remit to the meeting, oflthe North Island Motor Union, to be held on 19th February, drawing the attention of .motoring organisations throughout: the Dominion to the proposal.