Taxation Of Motor Cars

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 August 1916, Page 3

Taxation Of Motor Cars

—4 Discrs.siox IN PARLIAMENT. In our leading article to-day appears a statement that there is to be ait effort next session to increase the duty levied on motor-liars imported to New Zealand. Those of our readers who feel interested in this proposal will find confirmation of the intent in the following extract from the latest copy of New Zealand Hansard : — Mr. Wilkinson: We can best save our money and increase our resources by chocking extravagances; 'and among tiie extravagances I might name are the extraviga.nce and waste in connection with racing and in the overimportation of luxuries. It has, forexainple, 'become <(uit*' a scandal! in this country that there should be, such huge shipments of motor-cars coming from America, for which enormous sums of' money are being sent out of the ooiintry. T was one of those who urged a few years ago that tbc motor-cars coming into this country were not beiiiLr taxed sufficiently, find on the agitation developing the Government did increase the tax on those cars to somo extent : but the tax on motor-cars today is on the light side. I believo it should be increased materially, and it would do a great deal of good in the way of making people think twice before going in extravagantly for motorcars. I do not want to see an excessive tax put on the cars, nor do T want

to see them barred from the country altogether—far from it. But 1 think a heavier tax should ba placed upon them. The lit. Hon. Sir J. G. Ward: Taraiinki want* « good many. Mr Wilkinson: Undoubtedly; 1 do j not want to see them taxed out of the country altogether. The Kt. Hon. Sir J. G. Ward: You could not do so if you tried, because there are thousands of settlers who want them. Mr Wilkinson: Yes; but when you see a £300 motor-cw paying a duty of only £28 s An lion, members : More like £60. Mr Wilkinson: I am referring to a car sold for £300. The duty is only 1 £28. The Hon. Mr Myers: Is it Americ™ or British ? 1 Mr Wilkinson: They come from America. There are very few British ' cars coming into New Zealand to-day. Now £28 is a very low rate. The Rt. Hon. Sir J. G. Ward: Canadian cars come in largely also. Mr Wilkinson: They are practically all American cars; but that is by the [ way-