LOWER MOTOR TAXES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 191, 30 August 1937, Page 6

LOWER MOTOR TAXES

— Press Association.)

Representations to the Minister YIELD & DISTRIBUTION

»By Telegraph-

HAWERA, Last Night, Eepresentations to the Government on the question of the yield and distribution of motor taxation, including Customs duties on motor vehicles and parts, petrol tax, tyre tax and the many license fees relating to motor vehicles, are to be made by a deputation comprising the chief officers of the North and South Island Motor Unions and the presidents and secretaries of all affiliated automobile associations of the Dominion. The decision to place the motorists' case for a reduction in motor taxation before the Minister of Finance, Hon. W. Nash, was reached after a discussion taken in committee at tha annual con- • ference of the North Island Motor Union at Wanganui on Thursday. The recommendations are summarised as follow:— That British motor vehicles unassembled be imported on the same basis as industrial machinery. That motor vehicles from countries other than those included in the foregoing be subject to a tariff sufficient to give reasonable preferenee .to British vehicles. That motor vehicles not unassembled be subject to a duty only sufficient to assist in protecting local employment, with a differentiation as between BritJish and other motor vehicles to, retain this preferenee. That the levy on motor spirit of 4}dj per gallon for general purposes be.aban-.i doned. That the 92 per cent. of -6d per gallon, assigned to the Main Highways Board,| (be for its exclusive use in roading purposes and subject to no diversion what-. ever. "Justification for the action beingj taken is found in fact that since 1931; the yield from motor taxation has in-i creased by over £2,500,000, ' ' said Mr,| G. H. Laurence, secretary of tho Northj Island Union. "The total yield from. motor taxation in 1937, expressed in round figures, was £5,500,000, an increase of approximately £1,000,000 overt {the figure for 1936. 1 "The yield from motor tax, expressed ton the basis of the average nuinber of ! vehicles registered, is an increase, ,during the 1931-37 period of from £17; {13s 9d a vehicle in 1931 to £24 17s lldi a velucie in 1937.