JUST ANOTHER TAX'

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 103, 18 May 1937, Page 9

JUST ANOTHER TAX'

New System of Traffic-Fee CoIIection CHAMBER TO INQUIRE The opinion that the proposal to alter the system of colleeting the heavy-traffic fees, as intimated by the Minister for Transport, was merely another form of taxation was expressed at -Ihe meeting of the Hastings Chamber of Commerce last evening. The question arose when a member brought before the notice of the meeting the protest made by the Havelock North Town Board against the thking away from it of the right to collect the fees. It was pointed out that the board had only last year raised a loan of £3500 for tar-sealing the roads and at the time had promised the ratepayers that there would be no increase in the rates beeause provision could be made for setting aside of the interest and sinking fuud from the revenue collected in the form of heavy-traffic and other licence fees. The loss of this revenue might, and probably would, it waa stated, compel the board to break its promise and increase the rate. "The board has sent forward a Pr0" test, and I think we should back it np, ' ' said the president, Mr H. W, C. Baird. Mr W. E. Bate: It is just anothe* tax. By the diversion of this money to the Consolidated Pund, the boroughs and boards will have to find the money in spme other way and the rates will go up. "I feel that it would be a good thing for this Chamber to show that it is sympathetic with the ratepayers of Havelock North and that it should support the board in its protest," said Mr W. A. Whitlock. "It may be regarded quite definitely as a disguise of taxation," he said, "Ostensibly the board intended that the revenue should be used for traffic control, but instead spent it on traffic facilities. The paying of this money into the Consolidated Fund is only another means of exttracting money from the motorists." After a little further discussion it was decided to make further inquiries and consider the matter again at a later date.