A WHEEL TAX.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 92, 27 April 1901, Page 2

A WHEEL TAX.

OR GRAHAM’S MOTION.

A PETITION AGAINST THE PROPO AL.

At the mectiug of i' c Cook County Council yesterday, the following, petition was received protesting against the proposed bye-law dealing with the question of a wheel tax in the County:— “ We, the undersigned carters, contractors, farmers, and settlers of many callings, beg to bring to your notice the very great hardships which we should have to bear if the bye-law No. 5, which is to be proposed at your meeting next Friday, is passed and adopted by you. We would point out that we and our families to a considerable extent depend for our livelihood upon the use of the country roads-of the district, and that in the interests of the community the traffic upon these roads should be free and untaxed. In our opinion the proposed bye-law No. 5 is a step backward and not forward, and while we are quite willing to bear a failshare of the burdens entailed upon the district in the maintenance of its roads, we respectfully protest against any undue portion of the • weight being placed upon the shoulders of one particular class. We object to the very heavy license foes charged in Schedule “ B,” but our objections are more weighty against Schedule “A ” regulating the width of tyres. This schedule means that we shall have to obtain at onco new wheels for all our vehicles at a very great, and to some of us a ruinous cost, and an absolute sacrifice of the wheels now in use. The definition of the word vehicle is not clear to many of us, and we would like to know whether all people who keep vehicles, either for profit or pleasure, are to be dealt with on an equality. Trusting that you will consider this petition favorably, and either refuse or modify the proposed by-law.—(Signed - ) A. Bond. S. Oxcnham ; Wm.' McCullough, Makauri; W. Edwards, Paihimanihi; H. G. White, Makaraka; G. Phelps ; John Somervell, Makauri; W. Jones, Matawhero ; Chas. Gibson, Matawhero ; J. B. Von Pcin, Mangapapa ; W. Peryer, Whataupoko ; G. E. Jones, Waimaric ; 11. J. Cook, •Makauri; F. J. Thomas, Pouparae; J. T. Cassidy, Gisborne ; G. W. Tiffen, Wheturau ; J. Jones, Makauri; Alex. Brown, Waerenga-a-hika; C. O'Connell, Wao-renga-a-hika ; D. O’Connell, Waerenga-a-hika ; J. Linklater, Waerenga-a-hika ; W. J. White, Makar aka’; L. Cuff, Matawhero ; G. Hyland, Waerenga-a-hika ; P. Rogers, Patutahi; Hy, Eade, Patutahi; Thomas Kane; C. A. Arnaboldi; T. O’Donnell, Matawhero ; C. Hyde, Patutahi ; J. Atkins, Patutahi; J. D. Robscke, Gisborne ; Goo. Robb, Patutahi; C. Brown, Gisborne; P. McLaughlin, Patutahi; E. Habgood, Patutahi; McConnell, Matawhero ; F. McDonald, Ivaraka ; F. O’Connell, Ivaraka ; H. Brown, Ivaraka; W. Wills, Ormond; M. Roe, Ormond; Jas. Benson, Ormond; R. 11. Shanks, Ormond; James Davis, Waimaric; J. Barrington, Ivaraka; James Henderson, Patutahi; W. L. Rees, Gisborne.” Mr W. L. Roes appeared in support of the petition. The Chairman said that the members had not yet had an opportunity of discussing the matter, and Mr Roes would have to wait for a reply. Mr Rees said that lie was not acting professionally in the mattor. He had signed the petition himself, deeming it on his part a public duty. The sudden change which this by-law proposed in the total traffic of the district was very serious to working men. Carters, small settlers, and the farming community generally would suffer from the passing of the bylaw. The adoption of the by-law simply meant that every vehicle in the district must have fresh wheels. He would undertake to make every man in the district put fresh wheels on their vehicles if the by-law were adopted. In the interests of the public generally, the by-law should not be passed. Ho hoped that tho petition would meet with the favorable consideration of tho Council. Cr King proposed that, as the hour was late, the matter should be allowed to stand over until the next meeting. Cr Jex-Blake said that the matter had already been postponed several times, and something definite should be arrived at that afternoon. In answer to Cr Tombleson, Mr Rees said that every vehicle must liavo fresh tyres, if the by-law in its present form were passed. e Cr Graham said that he had obtained an estimate of the cost of altering tho tires in order to bring vehicles under the bye-law. To put four-inch tires on a waggon would cost £5 10s for each vehicle, and to alter a waggon to five-inch tires would cost 1112 10s per waggon, whilst there would be a return on the old tires of 10s. Mr Rees: That will be a pretty heavy tax if you come down on them all. Cr Cooper: There is likely to be a lot of discussion over this subject. I shall second Mr King’s motion that the matter be allowed to stand over until next meeting. The Chairman: Shall we have any more time next meeting? Cr Graham was in favor of going on with the matter in the evening. The draft of the by-law before the Council had simply been taken from another by-law, and'he intended the Council to go through it and strike out what was not considered proper. Cr Jex-Blake proposed an amendment that the question should bo considered and a decision arrived at at the present meeting. A vote being taken, the amendment was carried. The Council met at 7 p.m. to discuss Cr Graham’s motion. It was decided, on the motion of tho Chairman, that the by-law should be considered in committee, but the press representatives were not excluded. Members were unanimously in favour of making a by-law regulating traffic in the county, but there was a difference of opinion as to the form which it should take. Ci" King was concerned about a number of the carters’ who would be put tq great expense by the adoption of the by-law. He instanced the cases of Mr Bond and others who would be put to great expense in the matter. On the motion of Cr Jex-Blake, it was decided to consider the clauses of the bylaw serhhim. The first clauses gave the Interpretation to the different terms, and were adopted after some little comment. At this stage Cr Tombleson sought to move the following amendment, but was ruled out of order by the Chairman : That the by-law (proposed) be amended to read as follows : .That during the months of May, June, July and Augustno dray shall carry more than 20cwt, and no waggon shall carry more than SOcwt on any portion of the county roads men

tioned ina schedule to be decided by the committee.” Cr Tombloson suggested the following schedule : Say from Dodgers’ house [end of metal), Waimata ; from some point beyond Ormond ; from some point on Wairoa Boad ; from some point on Nuhalra Koad.” On the motion of the Chairman it was deeidedjo get the opinion of the Council’s solicitor on the term “ vehicle.”

Objection to many of the interpretation clauses was made by Cr King, who remarked on one'Occasion, “ You arc passing a by-law and you do not know what it means. ‘ You cannot tell whore it is going to end.” The discussion of the second clause regarding the width of the tyres brought Cr Tombleson to his feet. He complained of settlers carting timber for building houses during the wet season of the year, but at the same time he thought the bylaw which it was proposed to introduce regarding the width of tyres was of too drastic a nature. ‘ • 1 " i Cr Cooper considered that we were not far enough advanced to' go in for such a by-law. >• The Chairman in reply said that it was only in districts such as Gisborne that the by-law was required.

Cr Cooper spoke in favor of a tax on each vehicle usib’g the 'County roads, as suggested by Cr King.

The clause was adopted by 4 to 2. Prior to disposing of the clause providing for the width of tyres, Cr King proposed that the Council should go in for a wheel-tax pure and simple. To alter the size of the tyres would mean ruination to the district, and be a big knock tp canters

and settlers. Cr Graham: A wheel-tax is all right, but we must have a by-law providing for the width of tyres, so that wc can save our roads. Members generally approved of Councillor King’s proposition, but the majority of them also wanted to see a by-law dealing with the width of tyres. Cr Hutchinson was strongly in favor of provision being made for the width of tyres on vehicles, but thought it would be too hard on carters to also ask for a wheeltax.

Cr King wanted to see all persons owning vehicles paying a tax, for lie did not see why they should use the County roads without paying. The following schedules were adopted : A. For a 4-wheeled vehicle without springs drawn by 6 or 7 animals—•tin.

B. For a 4-whcclcd vehicle without springs drawn by 4 or 5 animals—4in. C. For a 4-wheeled vehicle without springs drawn by 2 or 3 animals— Ain.

D. For a 2-whecled vohicle without springs drawn by more than 4 animals—Sin. E. For a 2-whecled vohicle without springs drawn by 3 or 4 animals— Sin. F. For a 2-whcclcd vehicle without springs drawn by less than 3 animals—2-Jin. Vehicles coming within the meaning of sub-divisions A, B, C, of the schedule, if on springs, will be permitted to use tires which arc not less than half those sped tied in the said sub-divisions, and within sections D, E, F, not less than Uin. Schedule B.— License fee to' bo paid annually by the owner of any traction engine or vehicle as mentioned or defined in Sections 3,4, and f> of this by-law. For a traction engine under eight tons in weight, exclusive of the weight of coals and water carried thereon, if and while used only in transporting threshing machine plant belong to the person owning or using the said engine, £2. For a traction engine over eight tons in weight, exclusive of the weight of coals and "water carried thereon, if and while used as described in Clauso A of this schedule, 414. For every other traction engine under eight tons in weight, exclusive of the weight of coals and water carried thereon, 4215.

Bor every other traction engine over eight tons in weight, exclusive of the weight of coals and water carried thereon, 4120.

hor a 4-wlioeled vehicle without springs 412.

a 2-wheelod vehicle without springs

For a 4-whecled vehicle plying for hire on springs .£2. For a 2-whecled vehicle plying for hire on springs £l. For a 4-wheeled vehicle for private use 411.

For a 2-wheeled vehicle for private use 10s.

The new bye-law will bo confirmed at the next meeting of the Council.