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Hokitika Guardian, 11 June 1920, Page 2

Motor taxation is a thing that, must coino before long in. New Zealand. If the money raised from such a tax were

expended by a Main Roads Board on the maintenance and improvement of arterial roada and the. local bodies left free to devote their funfl.s to the subsidiary roads the net result, says an exchange, should he vast gain all round. Figures compiled by the New Zealand Trade Review show that ap. proximately 25,000 motor vehicles, exclusive of motor cycles, have been imported into Now Zealand during the lass six years. If this bo taken as representing somewhere near the number of motors now on the roads, it is possible to arrive at a rough estimate of tho yield of a motor tax. In Britain tho Chancellor of the Exechequer this year adopted an annual tax on tho basis of £1 per horse-power. If the average horse-power per 'car he put at fifteen, which is probably on the low side, a similar tax in 'New Zealand would yield nearly £400,000 per annum. Tn view of the present state of the local bodies’ motor registers, estimates o F the yield of a. motor tax are conjectural, but the figures quoted are sufficient to show that it would he feasible bv such a tax to provide both islands with first-class arterial roads within a comi paratively few years.

Some little time ago an appeal was made by the Hospital Board, and supported through the press for tho setting up of a Women’s Benevolent Committee for Hokitika district. The effoi't did not bear fruit. We learn, however, that there is immediate need for such a committee, and a further appeal is to be made by the Hospital Board for help in the direction referred to. It is hoped on this occasion that something practical will result. Within the last few days, cases have arisen which ’ndi. cate that a Women’s Committee can be of* practical help in assisting their own sex and young children in dire extremity. We have had so many patriotic workers here during the past five years, that it should he possible to get together a committee of ten or twelve ladies to carry on philanthropic -work among the deserving poor. This is the time of year when help is needed most in some families particularly in the way of clothing for the young and fuel for the home, and under proper organisation a valuable social work can be done. Such a committee, too, could help to shape public opinion regarding establishing a maternity home here. One hears of the need of such an institution time and again and organisation for such a purpose could not he in ( ;better hands than left to the women themselves. As to benevolent work no doubt the wives of the clergy would take a foremost part if so invited and a philanthropic committee would result. The Board would no doubt finance the committee by providing an imprest fund whence the cost of necessaries could be defrayed. Such a committee could meet regularly and appoint visitors for tho month. The names of the visitors for the month could be made public through the press and that intimation would bo available as a reference as cases arose. A sewing-bee could lie established in. conjunction with the committee and practical help given in cases where there are necessitious families. It would be very practical work worth 'doing well.